HC Deb 06 August 1902 vol 112 cc789-90
MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he has seen a communication from the Rev. C. O'Sullivan, parish priest of Millstreet, in reference to the Cullen (County Cork) homicide; whether he is aware that, although the Solicitor General, in the course of the trial, indicated that Father O'Sullivan had denounced the existence of a secret society in Cullen, Mr. O'Sullivan has denied his statement, and no evidence as to a secret society was brought forward at the petty sessions' investigation; and will he order further inquiry to be made into the conduct of the case.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

A witness was produced for the defence who admitted that he and six others, including the prisoner, were present when the murdered man was shot. That he and three others immediately ran away leaving the dying man in the street without succour or assistance, where he was afterwards found by the police. He also admitted that he told the police a tissue of falsehood. He also admitted that he told the police a tissue of falsehood deliberately. He was then asked did a secret society exist in Cullen and was he a member of it. He answered both questions in the negative. Ho was then asked had the Rev. Mr. O'Sullivan in his presence denounced this secret society. The question was objected to and the objection allowed. The Rev. Mr. O'Sullivan has written to the papers to say that he did not denounce any such secret society. There is nothing to inquire about.

MR. FLYNN

The Question is—Did Father O'Sullivan make any such statement or not? I have sent the right hon. Gentleman a copy of Father O'Sullivan's letter. Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give me a fuller answer?

MR. ATKINSON

I have said that Mr. O'Sullivan wrote to the papers denying that he denounced any secret society.

MR. FLYNN

Were not fifty-two jurors ordered to stand aside in this case?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!