§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Constable Guinlivan, Royal Irish Constabulary, Kilmalogue, Portarlington, requested two boys, named Cummins and Foran,
† See (4) Debates, cl., 1341.95 whom he met on the banks of the River Barrow, to catch him some gudgeons; that the constable took the fish for his own use, and subsequently instituted a prosecution which came before the petty sessions at Portarlington on July 26th; and whether, seeing that one of the boys, aged twelve years, was sent to Tullamore Gaol for fourteen days, and the other fined 10s. 6d., he will say what steps he proposes taking in this case.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThis prosecution was at the suit of the Fishery Conservators. There is no foundation for the suggestion that the constable who detected the offence asked the young men to fish. The offenders were fined 10s. 6d. each. One paid the fine, and the other, who is nineteen, not twelve, years of age, was sent to prison in default of payment.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWhat was the offence of these boys?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI suppose illegal fishing,
§ MR. T. M. HEALYUnder what circumstances?
§ MR. DELANYWho was the informer?
§ MR. WALTER LONGHow can I answer that?
§ MR. EUGENE WASON (Clackmannan and Kinross)Is fishing for gudgeons legal in other parts of the United Kingdom and not in Ireland?
§ [No Answer was returned.]