HC Deb 13 August 1901 vol 99 cc604-5
MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the Return of Agrarian Outrages during the quarter ended 30th June, 1901, the number of offences classed as incendiary fires, twenty, and as intimidation, twenty-three, is correctly stated; and if so, whether, in view of the nature of the evidence given at the recent summer assizes in Ireland in regard to incendiary fires, inquiries will be made as to how these figures are arrived at.

MR. WYNDHAM

Twenty-three threatening letters were reported during the quarter, and one case of intimidation (Donegal) other than by threatening letter. The number of incendiary fires reported was twenty. The reference to the evidence given at the recent assizes is not understood, but I may observe that in the majority of cases in which claims for compensation for malicious burnings are heard on appeal at assizes the offences are not of an agrarian character.

MR. FLYNN

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that it has transpired at the assizes that a large proportion of the cases were malicious only on the part of the persons claiming the compensation?

MR. WYNDHAM

There have been cases of that kind, and there have been cases where malice has not been proved, but the discrepancy referred to by the hon. Member is not accounted for by what I have stated.

MR. FLYNN

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct the constabulary to go more minutely into these Returns?

MR. WYNDHAM

I think they do inquire very closely already.

MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)

asked as to the case of a man named Murphy, prosecuted by the Crown in connection with his evidence as to the burning of a cowshed.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is now asking as to a case which is not on the Paper.