§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant 1432 of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at Ballintubber, on Thursday last, at the hearing of a charge against twelve men of having driven cattle off a farm; whether he is aware that no evidence was called to controvert the police evidence connecting the accused men with the offence, but the solicitor for the defence asserted that they had it on the authority of Lord Denman that the people of Ireland had reason for what they were doing; whether he is aware that three of the four magistrates on the bench refused an information, and that the fourth magistrate was a resident magistrate; whether he has made any report upon the case; and whether it is intended to take further proceedings in this case.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt is the fact that in the case referred to the majority of the magistrates refused to receive informations. The evidence in the case has been submitted to my right hon. friend the Attorney-General for Ireland, who has directed that a Bill against the defendants shall be sent up to the Grand Jury at the next assizes. The case, therefore, is still sub judice, and I do not propose to discuss the nature of the evidence or the proceedings which took place before the magistrates.