§ MR. LUNDON (Limerick, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mrs. Quinlan, of Lough Hospital, County Limerick, whose hay was burnt by Sergeant Sheridan and his accomplice, Constable Keegan, was compensated by application to the presentment sessions, and, if so, what was the amount of the compensation and over what townlands was the compensation exacted; and, seeing that the mother of Con Bray, who was wrongfully imprisoned for the crime committed by Sergeant Sheridan, was afterwards compensated for the loss of her son, and that Constable Keegan, on 940 his retirement, obtained a gratuity, will he take measures to refund to the taxpayers the respective moneys which were levied on them for a crime committed by police.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe levy of compensation amounted to £50. I cannot undertake to discover the ratepayers who paid this levy nearly four years ago. We know that Bray did not burn the hay, and his mother has been compensated. We know that Sheridan falsely accused Bray of this crime, but we have seen no evidence to prove that Sheridan committed it.
§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)asked if the right hon. Gentleman would state what money consideration Sergeant Sheridan received to leave the country, and out of what fund it was paid.
MR. OSHAUGHNESSYWill the compensation which has been paid be refunded to the County Council for public purposes?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI think that ought to be done, if it can be proved that Sheridan committed that particular offence.
§ MR. DELANYagain asked for an answer to his Question.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYConsidering that Sergeant Sheridan swore falsely—
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. DELANYagain asked for an answer.
§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork Co., Mid)asked if inquiry would be made as to whether Sheridan did burn the property in question.
§ * MR. SPEAKERsaid that all this was outside the scope of the Question on the Paper. Hon. Members could not now carry on a discussion.