§ MR. LUNDON (Limerick, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the case of Sergeant Sheridan against tramp Ryan, on the alleged posting up of threatening notices on a gate in Mullagh, County Clare, Constable Mahony, who on that occasion was on duty with Sergeant Sheridan, was not examined as a witness against Ryan; can he explain why Constable Mahony was afterwards dismissed from the constabulary force; and will he state whether the constabulary authorities, when preparing for the trial of Ryan, discovered that the paper on which the threatening notices had been written was official paper from the office of the police inspector of the district.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am afraid I have nothing to add to the statements made by me in the course of last session on this subject. The reasons for the discharge of Constable Mahony have already been fully explained.
§ MR. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last paragraph of the Question?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have gone into the whole of this question, and I am prepared to do so again if necessary.
§ MR. LUNDONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the police inquiry held in June last in Hospital, County Limerick, in regard to the mutilating of Michael Cregan's ass on the lands of Ballinamona about three years ago, by Sergeant Sheridan, Constable Anderson gave evidence incriminating Sergeant Sheridan, and made an admission that he aided in the mutilation of the ass; was Constable Anderson previous to the inquiry promised immunity from prosecution should he become informer on Sergeant Sheridan; will a copy of Constable Anderson's evidence on that occasion be laid upon the Table; and will he state whether Constable Anderson was retained in the constabulary force or was he dismissed or did he resign; and, if so, did he receive a retiring gratuity or do the Government intend prosecuting him for participating in the mutilating of Michael Cregan's ass.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have explained to the House, and defended the course pursued by the Government in the painful case of Sergeant Sheridan. It was an integral part of that course that the Departmental inquiry should be confidential and that certain witnesses should receive an assurance that their communications would not be used against them. Constable Anderson resigned.
§ DR. AMBROSESeeing that these charges were hanging over his head, why was Sheridan permitted to leave the country?
§ * MR SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the Question.