§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state in how many cases within the past two years white gloves have been presented to the County Court Judge of Limerick; and whether he is aware that at the last criminal sessions His Honour stated that the county was in a most peaceable condition.
§ MR. WALTER LONGOn six occasions within the past two years. The Judge is reported in the Press to have used language to the effect mentioned. His remarks would appear to have had reference to the county as a whole, and not to any particular district of it.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a statement made by Judge Kenny, in his address to the grand 890 jury at Limerick Assizes, on the information of the county inspector or constabulary, that in certain districts in the county of Limerick comprising portions of Abbeyfeale and Newcastle. West agrarian outrages were on the increase, and that since last assizes five additional persons had to be placed under police protection; if he will state the names and number of such persons, and the reason for their protection, having regard to the fact that newly all the land in the parish of Abbeyfeale has been purchased under the Land Purchase Acts, aid that there was no crime of an agrarian character before the Judge.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg further to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a statement made by the Rev. Father Casey, parish priest of Abbeyfeale, at a meeting of the United Irish League there, in referring to Judge Kenny's charge to the grind jury at Limerick Assizes, in which he associated that district with crime, that he did not know of any man within ten miles of Abbeyfeale under police protection, and that his parishioners conducted their business without recourse to violence of any kind; and whether, under these circumstances, he will say if any statistics were supplied by the constabulary authorities to the Judge; and, if so, whether he will supply them to the House.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Judge of Assize and the Rev. Mr. Casey are reported in the Press to have used language to the effect mentioned in these two Questions respectively. The Judge's statement was entirely accurate. Of the fire persons referred to in that statement, some were examined as witnesses for the Crown in a moonlighting case in which criminals were brought to justice, others are relatives of those witnesses, and one is suspected of having given information. These persons do not reside in the parish of Abbeyfeale. They are under police protection because it is believed that their connection with this prosecution has placed their lives and property in danger. To give their names or fuller information with regard to them might 891 increase that danger, and I must respectfully decline to give it.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYWhat was the nature of the moonlighting case?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI think that was an attack on a house.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYCan you answer the last part of my Question as to statistics?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI imagine the statistic s were supplied in the ordinary way.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYWill you give me further information as to this matter? I think I am entitled to it as a Member for the county.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI have said that if I were to give further information it might increase the danger in which these people are, and I am not inclined to do that.