§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can now state the specific grounds upon which it was decided not to hold an inquest in the case of the woman Finegan, who died on the day following certain eviction proceedings at her house at Cormary, near Newbliss, which proceedings were conducted by the agent and bailiffs of Lord Rossmore. Was the doctor employed by Lord Rossmore's agent to certify to the woman's fitness for removal a properly qualified medical man, and, if so, where does he regularly practise; were any police present, and did the officer in charge remonstrate with Lord Rossmore's agent; and, as the belief is general in the district that the woman's death was hastened by the conduct of the evicting party, will an inquest be yet held in this important case.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe question of holding an inquest in this case did not arise for consideration. As I have already pointed out, the woman was not evicted or disturbed by the landlord's agent, and she died, not on the day following the visit of the agent, but three days afterwards. The deceased had been ailing for the past twelve months, during the last two of which she was confined to her bed; her death had been expected some time previously by her own brother, and the police did not in the circumstances con- 1498 sider it necessary to report the death to the Coroner. I understand that the medical gentleman referred to in the second paragraph is properly qualified. I cannot say where he practises. There were two police present at the time; the woman was not removed, and they did not remonstrate with the agent. The police have no reason to think that the belief is general in the district that the woman's death was hastened by the action of the agent mid his bailiffs. It is not intended to hold an inquest, as suggested.