§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in an application to quash an order of certain justices of county Clare, by which Mr. Flanagan was sentenced to a month's imprisonment in default of payment of certain fines for having acted as chairman of Corofin District Council when ho had no right to do so, owing to his having been convicted and sentenced to a term of hard labour, Chief Baron Palles said that in asking them to quash the conviction they were asked to do a monstrous act of injustice to which he and his brother Judge could not yield, and the Court refused the application with costs; and, seeing that within a few days Flanagan was unconditionally released, whether it is to be understood that in future fines and penalties inflicted for breaking the law with reference to unauthorised persons acting as district councillors will be remitted.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am informed that the Lord Chief Baron's observations quoted in the Question had reference to one particular ground put forward for quashing the conviction, namely, that one of the convicting magistrates was biased and therefore not qualified to act. The Court held that the conviction was valid. The Lords Justices subsequently ordered Mr. Flanagan's release. He had then suffered imprisonment for five weeks. The sentence of imprisonment amounted to four months, and not one as stated in the Question.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGIs it the intention of the Government in all cases of imprisonment for agrarian offences to cut down the sentences by three-quarters?
§ MR. BIRRELLNo, Sir.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGCan the right hon. Gentleman refer me to a single case—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)As this is a reflection on Mr. Flanagan, will the right hon. Gentleman say if he was not convicted and sentenced to hard labour for a purely political offence under the Crimes Act which does not prevail in England?
§ MR. BIRRELLHe was convicted under what the hon. Member calls the Crimes Act.