§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the recent eviction by Mr. Warden in the village of Sneem, county Kerry, of a man named Sullivan for having given shelter to an evicted tenant; whether he is aware that. Sullivan's rent had been punctually paid, and the only cause given for the eviction was the giving shelter to Neill and his family; and whether, under the circumstances, he can see his way to remonstrate against such proceedings?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe ejectment of Sullivan was not for non-payment of rent, but on the title. The decree for possession was obtained at Quarter Sessions in October, 1896, and was confirmed on appeal at the March Assizes of 1897. Sullivan had, therefore, a year in which to seek another place of abode, as he knew the eviction was pending. The cause of the ejectment, as I understand, was twofold—namely, the filthy and insanitary state of the habitation which was in the middle of the village, and the fact that he sub-let half of it to a man with a wife and eight children. These people, with Sullivan and his son, made up the number of 12, all crowded into one small hut, with half the roof removed.