§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that a number of claims for compensation for malicious injuries have been made in the county court for the East Riding of Galway for the Michaelmas Sessions 1906; will he state the number and nature of such claims and whether they include several claims for the mutilation of cattle and horses, and the destruction of walls; does the number exceed largely the number of claims at any recent county court sittings in the Riding; and has any person been made amenable to justice in respect of any, and, if so, how many, of the outrages which are the subject of such claims.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the police authorities that twenty-four claims for compensation for malicious injuries, came before the recent quarter sessions courts held in the East Riding of Galway. Of these, seven were in respect of malicious injuries to cattle and horses, 'and four in respect of injuries to walls. Out of the twenty-four cases, in twelve only was compensation awarded. Six cases were withdrawn, four dismissed, and two adjourned. The number of claims is, I am informed, considerably in excess of that at any recent sessions in 1132 the Riding. Arrests were made in two cases. In one, the defendant is awaiting trial, and in the other, the accused was discharged for want of evidence.
§ [No Answer was returned.]