HC Deb 18 July 1901 vol 97 c848
MR. CONDON (Tipperary, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of the emergency man Noonan, who was released from prison one month before his sentence of two months imprisonment with hard labour for an aggravated assault had expired, and he can state the reasons advanced for the reduction of the sentence and the grounds of a petition praying for his release presented by Noonan or on his behalf by his friends to the Lords Justices.

MR. WYNDHAM

It would be contrary to invariable practice to make a statement such as that suggested in the second part of this question. I can add nothing to my reply of the 17th inst., namely, that the Lords Justices, upon a consideration of all the facts and the previous record of the prisoner, remitted a portion of the sentence.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S).

What harm would there be in showing the petition?

MR. WYNDHAM

It would create what I think would be an unfortunate precedent.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Yes, for the Government.

MR. FLAVIN

Was not the only recommendation of this man the fact that he was an emergency man? It is a case of one law for the landlords.