§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he will order the immediate release of two men named Maguire, County Tyrone, who are at present in prison on a charge of larceny from William Triston, considering that in July 1896, when charging the jury before whom the Maguires were tried, Judge Andrews remarked that if money found upon the accused could have been identified as upon the deceased on the night in question, no one could fail to see the importance of such evidence, but that they had not the materials upon which they could come to such a conclusion; and what is the reason for the detention of the Maguires in prison on the charge of larceny after substantial bail being offered for their appearance when called upon?
§ *THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.I have already, in answer to several questions from hon. Members stated to the House that the brothers Maguire are at present in prison on the charge of robbery from the person of one, Triston, deceased, and that it is intended to put them on their trial at the next Summer Assizes for that offence. From the only report of Judge Andrews' charge which has been furnished to me, the learned Judge does not appear to have made the statements attributed to him in the question. The application to be admitted to bail was made to the learned Judge who presided at the case, and refused by him, as appears from the report, on the ground that they were apprehended when they were fleeing from justice.
§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could say how many questions he had answered on this subject, and 1423 whether, in the interests of justice, he would decline to answer any further questions?
§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked whether it was intended by the Crown to proceed on the charge of robbery before the death, or only on the charge of larceny?