§ MR. JOHN O'DONNELL (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the 1169 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a prosecution took place at Ballyhaunis, county Mayo, on 29th July last, at the suit of the Crown, against two youths named Carney and Boyle; that a lad named Delaney, who was a witness for the Crown, swore that he was prepared in the evidence he should give by a policeman when serving him with a summons; and, whether he will take steps in future to prevent members of the police force from preparing Crown witnesses in the evidence they should give in a court.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThis boy, aged twelve, did, by replying in the affirmative to a leading question put in cross-examination, accept the suggestion referred to. On re-examination he made it clear that he had received no instruction whatever and had sworn only to what he had himself seen and heard. His evidence was confirmed by other witnesses. The defendants, who were twenty and twenty-three years of age, were ordered to give sureties for their future good behaviour, or to be imprisoned in default. They adopted the first alternative.