§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that two young men named Leonard were, while returning from divine service at Riverstown, county Sligo, on Sunday, the 3rd February last, assaulted by the caretaker of Knocallassa grazing farm, a man named M'Guinness, and his two sons; that Joseph Leonard, who witnessed the scene at a distance, succeeded in making peace, all parties going to their respective homes, but that afterwards M'Guinness followed these young men and renewed the attack, one of them firing a shot from a gun at Joseph Leonard when six yards distant, the pellets tearing his clothes, and that he was only prevented from firing again by the gun being taken from him and broken; and whether this M'Guinness holds a gun licence, and whether the police have arrested or prosecuted M'Guinness for this conduct; if not, will they be instructed to do so.
§ MR. WYNDHAMRoger M'Guinness, who is alleged to have discharged 605 the gun at Leonard, is not licensed under the Peace Preservation Act. He was arrested by the police, and has been returned for trial at the assizes on the charge of firing at the person. There are other proceedings arising out of the occurrence awaiting magisterial investigation, and in the circumstances I cannot make any further statement in the matter.