§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord 1121 Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. P. A. M'Hugh, M.P. for North Leitrim, was arrested in Dublin at 1.30 a.m. on the 16th instant, on a warrant signed by two resident magistrates; whether he is aware that the hon. Member was journeying to Sligo for the purpose of attending his trial under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act when arrested; and, if so, will he state why Mr. M'Hugh was not permitted to reach Sligo before having the warrant put in execution.
§ MR. WYNDHAMOn the 19th May a summons was issued against the hon. Member for North Leitrim requiring him to attend at Sligo petty sessions on the 6th June instant. The summons was served on the 22nd May. Failing to attend the petty sessions, a warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant was executed early on the morning of the 15th instant. The police had no reason whatever to believe, at the time of the arrest, that the hon. Member had the intention attributed to him of proceeding to Sligo to stand his trial.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Is it not a fact that in many of these cases the trial has been proceeded with in the absence of the individual summoned when he is legally represented?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIn this case the hon. Member was not represented, neither did he put in an appearance.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork Co., E.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the night when Mr. M'Hugh was arrested he was fulfilling an engagement in his capacity as President of the Institute of Journalists in Ireland?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI do not see what bearing that has. The Government had no intimation of his presence in Ireland.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been directed to the time when Mr. M'Hugh was arrested—half-past one in the morning?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is a matter of comment and argument.
§ MR. MACVEAGHIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it was 1122 announced in the Freeman's Journal several days beforehand that Mr. M'Hugh was to visit Ireland?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ Subsequently.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you have received any official communication informing you of the committal to prison of a Member of the House yesterday by certain magistrates in Ireland?
§ MR. SPEAKERI have not as yet received any such communication. As soon as I do, I will communicate it to the House.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIn view of the fact that this committal is within my own knowledge, would it be within my right to raise the question before you, Sir, receive the official communication?
§ MR. SPEAKERI think it would be very undesirable to do so. Much might depend on what was the Court and what was the offence; and I think it would be desirable that the House should have all the facts before it.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIn these circumstances I will not press at the moment what, apparently, is my right to raise the question. I will wait until tomorrow, but not later; and if no communication has then been received by Mr. Speaker, I will raise the question of the imprisonment of a Member of the House.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill you, Mr. Speaker, communicate to the House any letter which you may receive by the evening post?
§ MR. SPEAKERIf I receive the letter before the beginning of the evening sitting, I will then communicate it to the House, and if it comes later I should be quite ready to communicate it on my return at midnight, though it would probably not be desirable to bring the question on then.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURPerhaps it may be to the convenience of the House if I repeat what I have said before—that 1123 when the communication is received, and if it is of the character which I understand it is, it will be my duty, in accordance with unbroken precedent, to move for a Committee to examine into the circumstances of the case. I shall feel it my duty to make a Motion of that character.