§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that malicious injury claims amounting to £34 are being made against the Corporation of Limerick for the breaking of plate glass windows in that city by soldiers belonging to the Liverpool Regiment; and, whether, seeing that a number of these soldiers were caught in the act, and in view of the burden inflicted on unoffending citizens in having to pay for this destruction, he will propose such Amendment of The Local Government Act, 1898, as will enable these sums to be levied on the property or pay of the offenders.
§ MR. WYNDHAMMy attention has been called to the matter referred to. Up to the present the sum claimed in respect of injury shown to have been caused by soldiers is £24, not £34. Soldiers, like other persons who commit such injury, are responsible civilly to the owner for the amount of damage done. There is no special exemption in their case.