§ MR. SLOANI beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of John M'Ardle, who was convicted at the Newry Quarter Sessions on January 4th last on the charge of selling spirits and beer without a licence; whether M'Ardle, who refused to pay the fine imposed, was sent to gaol on April 11th last, but on the representation of a memorial sent to the Lord-Lieutenant was liberated on May 24th last; and if he can say by whom was the memorial signed, and what was the authorities' report in regard to it.
§ MR. ATKINSONM'Ardle, who was convicted of a revenue offence, namely, selling exciseable liquors without a licence, was released from prison by order of the Board of Inland Revenue, acting under the powers conferred upon them by Section 35 of the Inland Revenue Regulation Act, 1890. A memorial on the prisoner's behalf was received by the Lord-Lieutenant and transmitted by him to the Board, but the Board's order was made before their receipt of the memorial and without any knowledge of it. It would be contrary to practice to give the names of memorialists, or to state the purport of official reports.