§ MR. LEAMYI beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will say whether there are any limits to the term for which, under warrant of committal for contempt of Court, Mr. M'Hugh, M.P., can be kept in gaol; and if the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland possesses the power to order Mr. M'Hugh's release.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.The answer to both of these Questions is in the negative. I think it only right to say that before the hon. Member was arrested application was made on his behalf to the Judge who issued the attachment order that it might be rescinded. The learned Judge said he could not consider the application unless it was accompanied by an expression of regret on the part of the hon. Member. The duration of the hon. Member's imprisonment is very much in his own hands.
§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)Has any communication been made on the part of the Government to Judge Ross?
§ MR. ATKINSONCertainly not.
§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)What did the right hon. Gentleman mean by the words "the duration of the hon. Member's imprisonment is very much in his own hands?"