§ MR. J. P. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that an evicted tenant named Thomas Killian and his brother, belonging to the neighbourhood of Four Roads, Roscommon, have been detained in prison for some months on an allegation of contempt of court; and (2) whether the Government propose to take any action in this and similar cases to amend the Law with respect to punishments for contempt of court?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that Thomas Killian and his brother were committed to Tullamore Prison on the 22nd and 25th November last, respectively, for contempt under an Order of the Court of Chancery. The responsibility for the proceedings in such cases rests altogether with the Court, and the Executive have no power to interfere in any way. The Government do not propose to take any action in the direction suggested in the second paragraph of the Question.