HC Deb 01 August 1905 vol 150 cc1172-3
MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that on May 16th last Sergeant Killachy, Royal Irish Constabulary, of Ballyheigue, county Kerry, and two constables were attacked by Patrick Hara and John Hara while d scharging their duties of protecting two bailiffs who were making a seizure under a decree; that the sergeant was knocked down and threatened with a knife; and that a cow which the bailiffs had seized was forcibly taken from them and driven away; and will he explain why the Haras were only prosecuted for a common assault on the sergeant, instead of being prosecuted by the Crown for the more serious offence of attacking the police while protecting the bailiffs and of forcibly taking goods from the bailiffs which they had seized under a decree.

MR. WALTER LONG

My hon. friend has not been correctly informed. The sergeant was not knocked down or threatened with a knife; the cow seized was not rescued; and the Haras were not prosecuted for a common assault only. Three sets of summons were served on the Haras. One for assault on the police, one for obstructing the police in the discharge of their duty, and one for injuring a constable's uniform. Convictions were obtained on the first and last, under which both the Haras were sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour and Patrick Hara was ordered to pay £1 1s. for costs and compensation for the injury to the constable's uniform. Differences of opinion were apparently entertained by the bench as to the second charge, which was thereupon withdrawn, as the police were of opinion that justice had been sufficiently vindicated.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a copy of the evidence in this case? I have, and the sergeant says he was knocked down and threatened with a knife.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

Has not the hon. Member already brought sufficient disgrace on his country by the sale of whisky?

Mr. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the sole reason that this Question is asked is that the people of this district will not drink Dunville's rotten Irish whisky?

MR. WALTER LONG

The evidence available has been before the Irish Government, and the matter has been carefully inquired into.