§ MR. JOHN ROCHE (Galway, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the cases 665 of two prisoners named Muldowney and Finigan, of Croughwell, who were convicted in Sligo and have been about seventeen years confined; and whether he will review their cases with a view to recommending His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to grant their discharge.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe prisoners named in the question were convicted of murder at the Sligo Assizes in August, 1884, and sentenced to death. The sentence was subsequently commuted to one of penal servitude for life. Their cases were under the consideration of the Lord Lieutenant in August of last year, when it was decided that the law must take its course. The case of convict Finigan was again under consideration in November, with a like result. As respects the second paragraph, it is not my province to act as suggested. Any application or memorial praying for a mitigation of sentence should be addressed to the Lord Lieutenant, in whom alone is vested the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.
§ MR. DILLONWhen will these cases come up again in the ordinary course for reconsideration?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI cannot say; but if a memorial is presented they are immediately reconsidered.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLDoes not the Lord Lieutenant act on the advice of his Chief Secretary in exercising the prerogative of mercy?
§ Mr. G. W. BALFOURNo, Sir; he does not.