HC Deb 10 March 1904 vol 131 cc759-60
MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the last petty sessions held at Athenry, when a bailiff named J. Hansberry was prosecuted and fined for discharging firearms on the public road between nine and ten o'clock at night; whether he is † See (4) Debates,, cxxix., 192. † See (4) Debates,, cxxix., 595. aware that Hansberry lives about 100 yards from the public road in the neighbourhood of which several malicious injuries have taken place, and that at the last quarter session at Gort, Hansberry claimed compensation under the Malicious Injuries Act, and, if so, will he say what was the nature of his claim; can he state the number of times these outrages were reported to the police; whether they were recorded as agrarian outrages in the Return supplied to Parliament; and what action the authorities intend to take in the matter, and whether they will consider the propriety of depriving Hansberry of the licence to carry arms.

MR. WYNDHAM

I stated yesterday† that Hansberry was prosecuted and fined, on the charge of discharging firearms on the public road. He was awarded £5 compensation at quarter sessions in January for malicious injury to a pony trap at Athenry several miles distant. This case was not recorded as agrarian. There were two other cases of malicious injury in the neighbourhood for which compensation was granted; both of these, were recorded as agrarian offences. Hansberry is reported by the police to be a man of good character and there are no sufficient grounds for depriving him of his arms licence.

MR. ROCHE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police sergeant swore that frequent complaints had been made about shots being fired at night?

*MR. SPEAKER

Notice must be given of any further Question.