HC Deb 15 June 1899 vol 72 cc1190-1
*MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that an eviction party from the Rossmore estate office at Monaghan attended on Saturday, the 3rd instant, at the town-land of Cormary, near Newbliss, to evict Francis Finegan and his sister from their farm; that the woman Finegan, who was over 60 years of age, was lying in bed ill when the bailiffs arrived, but that a doctor, not belonging to the district, certified that she was quite fit to be removed, and that Mr. Turner, relieving officer, when he reached the scene with the workhouse ambulance, refused to remove the woman unless upon the certificate of Dr. Henry, the medical officer of this district; that the bailiffs had the greater portion of the furniture and effects thrown out upon the street when Dr. Henry arrived, and that Dr. Henry forbade any further action by the bailiffs when he saw the condition of the woman, who died the following day or the day after; was an inquest held, seeing that her end was accelerated by the action of the bailiffs; who employed the doctor who supplied the certificate of fitness of removal; and will any notice be taken of this case.

*MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The facts are generally as stated in the first paragraph. Dr. Henry did not arrive until 10.20 p.m., after the evicting party had left. The woman, who was not disturbed, died on the morning of the 6th inst. No inquest was held; the deceased had been ailing for the past twelve months, during the last two of which she was confined to bed. The medical man who stated she was fit for removal was employed by the agent to the landlord. No action is called for in the case on the part of the Government.

MR. MACALEESE

Were the furniture and other effects removed?

*MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The furniture was removed.