HC Deb 22 April 1901 vol 92 c928
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland if the Government will bear the costs of Messrs. M'Inerney, Halpen, and Lynch in the prosecution against them which the Government did not persevere with to the end.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

There is no power to pay the costs of the accused, nor is this a case where that should be done, even if the power existed.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Is it not the fact that the Government initiated the prosecution and then dropped it? Why should it not bear the costs incurred by these gentlemen?

MR. ATKINSON

It is true that the Government took the proceedings and then, at the solicitation of the hon. Member, dropped them.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Were they not dropped in consequence of a judgment delivered by the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland? Why should these men have to pay the cost of defending themselves against accusations which were untrue?

[No answer was returned.]