§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Myles Sinnott, of Courtown Harbour, was some time within the last five years committed to Woxford Gaol for contempt of court; what was the date of his committal, and what was the nature of the contempt; how long has Sinnott been detained in gaol; and is he still in custody; if not, when was he discharged.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)I am informed that the man Myles Sinnott was committed to Wexford Prison on the 17th October, 1896, on an order of attachment issued by the Court of Chancery for contempt of court. His contempt consisted in refusing to join with one Mary Sinnott in paying into court a sum of £850 cash to the credit of a suit, Sinnott v. Sinnott, and also in refusing to join in transferring a sum of £760 Consols to the credit of the same suit pending in the Court of Chancery. Sinnott was detained in prison until the 14th December, 1897, a period of one year and fifty-nine days, and on his discharge he was removed to the Enniscorthy Lunatic Asylum.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORHow long was Sinnott under arrest before it was discovered he was out of his mind?
§ MR. ATKINSONOnly a short time.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORThat makes two men sent to prison for contempt of court and afterwards put in a lunatic asylum.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDWhat limit of punishment would the man have received had he been tried for his offence?
§ MR. ATKINSONI am not aware of the details of the offence.