§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that two pigs, belonging to Mr. Alexander Heskin, one of the traversers in the recent conspiracy case, were driven by the police from near his premises to the pound at Tallow, on the 24th ultimo; that the owner of the pound refused to give them up to Mr. Heskin on same date without consent of the police, although Mr. Heskin offered his name and address; and that the pound keeper then went to the police and was directed by the head constable not to give up the pigs until the police should be present; can he explain why the police declined to be present on that day, and again on the 27th ultimo refused to let the animals be given up or to attend at the pound, 1288 though requested by the pound keeper; and seeing that subsequently the same day the head constable and two constables consented to come to the pound, but would not allow the animals to be released unless a sum of 7s. was paid, will he cause inquiry to be made into the action of the police in this matter.
§ MR. WYNDHAMMr. Heskin denied ownership of the pigs before they were impounded on the 24th February. The police did not decline to be present at the pound on the 24th, or any other date. The pound keeper did not request their attendance, until it came to his knowledge that Mr. Heskin proposed to remove the pigs by force. The animals were released by the keeper when the cost of their maintenance was paid to him. The action of the police in the matter was perfectly regular.