HC Deb 06 March 1905 vol 142 cc416-7
MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the re-sale of an estate of 447 acres at Rochfort Bridge, near Mullingar, the Estates Commissioners have disregarded the expressed wishes of Mrs. Maher, the vendor, that the land should be divided amongst the villagers, and have sanctioned a list of purchasers largely made up of, and furnished by, officials and members of the local branch of the United Irish League, most of whom live several miles distant; and, if so, will he state what communications passed between the Estates Commissioners and the United Irish League, and which of the Commissioners were concerned.

MR. ATKINSON

The Estates Commissioners inform me that it is not the case that they have disregarded the wishes of Mrs. Maher, who, together with a Mr. McDermott and Mr. Leonard, executors of the will of Mrs. Maher's husband, were the vendors of these lands. The solicitor of the vendors, on July 15th, 1904, furnished to the Estates Commissioners a list of purchasers whom they could recommend, the same being in fact a copy of a list supplied to the vendors by the parish priest with the exception of one person added by the vendors. On September 15th, 1904, the solicitor for the vendors submitted an additional list of purchasers, this latter list being in fact a copy of a list sent on September 8th by the local branch of the United Irish League direct to the office of the Estates Commissioners. Subsequently to September 15th the Commissioners instructed one of their inspectors to inspect the lands and obtain undertakings to purchase from suitable purchasers, with the result that he obtained undertakings from nineteen persons. These nineteen persons comprised eight who were included in the lists previously furnished by the vendors, the parish priest, and the United Irish League; three others whose names were on the list furnished by the vendors and the parish priest; two who were recommended by the parish priest alone; three others who were recommended by the United Irish League alone; and the remaining three who ware recommended by the inspector alone. I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that eighteen of these persons live in the immediate vicinity of the lands, and that the remaining person lives three miles distant. The Commissioners also inform me that they themselves had no communication with the United Irish League other than a letter acknowledging the receipt of the above mentioned list. It appears that all three of the Commissioners took part in these proceedings at different stages.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

Can the right hon. Gentleman say which of the Commissioners made the order dividing the land?

MR. ATKINSON

I cannot.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Was one Mr. Wrench?

MR. ATKINSON

I can give no further information.