§ MR. LUNDON (Limerick, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord. Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that the constabulary authorities, when preparing for the trial of tramp Ryan at the prosecution of Sergeant Sheridan for posting up threatening notices on a gate at Mullagh, Co. Clare, discovered that the paper on which the threatening notices had been written was official 601 paper from the office of the police inspector of the district; and will he state what action, if any, he proposes to take in this matter.
§ MR. ATKINSONThere is no foundation for the statement that the threatening notices were written on official paper. The answer to the last query is, therefore, in the negative.
§ MR. LUNDONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Constable Keegan, who was present with Sergeant Sheridan at the burning of Mrs. Quinlan's hay near Hospital, county Limerick, in the end of November, 1897, was examined at the winter assizes in Cork six days later as a witness against Constable Bray for the burning of the hay, and that Constable Keegan aided Constable Sheridan in procuring a Conviction against Bray and a sentence of three years imprisonment; is he aware that Constable Keegan afterwards at the police inquiry in Hossital in June last swore it was Sergeant Sheridan who burned the hay; and can he explain why, when Constable Keegan subsequently resigned the police force, he received a gratuity from the Government.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe action of the Government in this case has been discussed in detail by my right hon. friend. It is not one that can properly be further discussed by means of Question and answer, and when a suitable opportunity again presents itself my right hon. friend will be prepared to give any further explanations that may be required and to defend the course adopted by the Government.