HC Deb 19 March 1897 vol 47 cc1032-3
MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if the police have made any investigation into the circumstances regarding the alleged malicious poisoning of several valuable dogs belonging to farmers in the townland of Tyholland, County Monaghan; and, if so, with what result; (2) is he aware that a claim for damages was made by the owners of these dogs, and rejected by the Grand Jury at the late Monaghan Assizes on the ground that no claim for damages can lie in the case of a dog maliciously poisoned; and that a gentleman named White, at a recent Assizes at Monaghan, was awarded £25 by the Grand Jury to compensate him for the loss of a valuable dog maliciously destroyed by some person unknown; and (3) whether he can give any explanation as to the difference between the awards in these two cases?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The police investigated the circumstances attending the poisoning of the dogs referred to in the first paragraph, but were unable to connect any person with the occurrence. The dogs were three in number, and, in the opinion of the police, were not worth more than half-a-crown apiece. The owners, however, placed a higher value on the animals and claimed the sum of £44 10s. as compensation at Presentment Sessions, which claim was rejected. The claim was renewed at the recent Assizes and was rejected by the direction of the presiding Judge on the ground that the Statute under which the claim was made did not sanction the grant of compensation for dogs. It appears to be the fact that at an Assizes held in 1883 compensation amounting to £20 was awarded for the malicious poisoning of two valuable dogs, but since that date it has been decided by the Court for Crown Cases Reserved that there is no power to give compensation for injury to or destruction of a dog.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

asked whether it was part of the duty of the Royal Irish Constabulary to assign the value of farmers' dogs?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I could not say, Sir; but it does not seem to me to be very relevant, because there can be no compensation in any case.

MR. EDWARD CARSON (Dublin University)

Was not the claim made on the ground that the dogs were foreign animals? [Laughter.]

[No reply was given.]