§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Thomas Brady, of Ballinaglera, County Leitrim, who was convicted at the last Carrick Assizes for firing a revolver at a boy named M'Hugh, and bound to the peace for two years and to come up for judgment when called on, and since then was convicted at Dowra at the suit of the Excise for carrying a gun without a licence; had he then a licence under the Arms Act, 52 and where was it granted; and, seeing that this man is frequently in possession of firearms while in a condition that makes him a danger to the public peace, will he explain why he has never been prosecuted by the police?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THB LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe facts are correctly stated in the first paragraph. At the time of the occurrences mentioned, Brady had not a licence to keep firearms under the Peace Preservation Act. Since he was convicted of carrying a gun, at the suit of the Excise Authorities, he has again been found in possession of a gun, and the Excise have directed further proceedings to be instituted against him. The question of proceeding against him under the Arms Act for this second offence cannot be determined until the prosecution at the suit of the Excise has terminated, as it is not considered desirable to do anything that would prejudice the prosecution by the Excise. In the meantime, the police have been instructed to report fully he facts of the case to the Crown Solicitor, with a view to being advised by my right honourable Friend the Attorney-General, whether Brady's recent conduct is a contravention of the conditions of his recognisance.