§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the action of the police in connection with recent arrests arising out of proceedings on the Orpen Estate, near Millstreet, county Cork, and to the fact that two young men, named Corcoran, were brought handcuffed into Millstreet, lodged in the local police barrack, and subjected to private magisterial inquiry at the barracks, from which every one was excluded, including the father of the accused; and, if so, whether the constabulary authorities sanctioned these proceedings in regard to untried prisoners.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover)Under Section 9, Sub-section 2, of the Petty Sessions Act, 1851, the presiding magistrate, in all cases of proceedings for indictable offences, is empowered to exclude the public if he considers that the ends of justice will thereby be best served. The charge against the accused in the present case was an indictable one, and the magistrate was of opinion that in the interests of justice the public should not be admitted. The police had reasonable grounds for apprehending an attempted rescue or violence, and they considered it necessary, in consequence, to take the precaution of handcuffing the prisoners.
§ MR FLYNNWhat right had the authorities to march these untried prisoners through the streets handcuffed?
§ [The Answer was inaudible.]