HC Deb 04 July 1905 vol 148 cc988-90
MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has seen a copy of the special jury panel for Galway Summer Assizes; whether this panel has been prepared or the jurors summoned under the provisions of the Criminal Law Procedure (Ireland) Act; if he can state when this procedure was † See (4) Debates, cxlvii., 93. last resorted to; and whether persons charged with agrarian offences in the county will be tried by a jury selected: from this panel.

MR. WALTER LONG

I have not seen the panel referred to. The names of the jurors on the panel have been taken by the sheriff from the special jurors' book in the ordinary way, as provided by the Jury Acts. Orders have been obtained from the King's Bench Division under the third Section of the Criminal Law and Procedure Act directing that certain cases shall be tried before special jurors. The last case of the kind occurred in July, 1903, and there were four cases in the preceding year. The jurors to try the cases named in the Orders, which are generally of an agrarian nature, will be chosen by ballot from the panel.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Is it not four years since these provisions were put in operation in Ireland, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Recorder of Gal way the other day declared in his charge to the grand jury that there was nothing unusual in the condition of the county. Under these circumstances does the right hon. Gentleman think it right to inaugurate a régime of coercion in the county

MR. WALTER LONG

The same course was taken in July, 1903.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Then I will ask the Prime Minister whether, seeing that fifty or sixty men will be tried at the Galway Assizes under Section 3 of the Coercion Act, that this section has not been in operation for two years, and that this seems to be the inauguration of a coercion régime, he will give an opportunity to move an Address to the Crown under Section 5 for the revocation of the proclamation of the county under Section 3.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

I have not had the opportunity of making myself acquainted with all the circumstances, but I understand there has been no new proclamation under the Act, parts of Ireland having been under the section for years past.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

But it has not been used.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There is a law against crime, but if there is no crime it is not enforced. An Address to the Crown might be a proper mode of procedure if the situation were newly created. There seems to me an impropriety in taking such a course while the trials are proceeding, especially as the opportunity for comment and criticism arises in the discussion of Irish Estimates.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

pointed out that, according to the Act, if the House presented an Address to the Crown the proclamation would not continue in force. Would not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not deny that if the House of Parliament did present an Address to the Crown it would put an end to the particular proclamation, but it would not be expedient to consider that course while the trials were going on.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Very well, at the end of Questions I shall ask leave to move the adjournment.