§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the treatment to which Bridget Moran, of Dingle, county Kerry, has been subjected by the local branch of the United Irish League for eighteen months, and to the fact that her house has been maliciously burnt and her stock destroyed because, when the middle 24 lease of her premises expired and her immediate landlord refused to pay the increase demanded by the head landlord, she, to save herself from eviction, took a lease of the premises at the rent which was demanded from her immediate landlord; and, if so, will he state what steps he has taken or will take in the matter.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. WYNDHAM)It is true that Mrs. Moran took a lease from the head landlord substantially under the circumstances mentioned. Disputes subsequently arose owing to Mrs. Moran having employed a man named McGuire, who was not a regular tradesman, to knock down and rebuild her house. It is alleged that the United Irish League subsequently interfered in this trade dispute. Mrs. Moran's house was subsequently burned down. She applied to the County Court Judge for compensation for malicious injury, and his decision in her favour is now under appeal. Under the circumstances I cannot go more fully into the facts. The police have at all times been giving close attention to the case and doing everything in their power to preserve the peace.