§ MR. JOHN ROCHE (Galway, E.)To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that a man named Michael Mahon, Woodford, County Galway, applied for £20 compensation for alleged malicious burning of his house, that the claim included an item of four £1 notes which he swore were in a tin box and burned, and that the police proved that the paper burned was a piece of foolscap, upon which the case was dismissed by the County Court Judge; whether he is aware that Mahon appealed to a Judge of Assize, and swore that a few nights before the appeal was heard, a threatening notice had been posted upon his door, having a picture of a coffin upon it, and stating that if he went to assize he would be doomed; whether the police proved that the notice was writted by Mahon himself; and what action the Crown intend to take in the matter, and, if any, will it be taken immediately lest he may evade a prosecution.
§ MR. CHERRYThe facts of the case referred to in the Question as reported to me are as follows:—Mahon applied for £20 compensation for the malicious burning of his house on the night of 9th September, 1907. The claim included an item of £4 for four £1 notes which he swore were in a tin box in the house and were burned. The police secured the tin box in which were the burned ashes of paper, but were unable to form any opinion as to what kind of paper the ashes originally were. The claim was dismissed by the County Court Judge. Mahon appealed to the Judge of Assize, and on the hearing of the appeal swore that he had found a threatening notice on a window sill outside the house. Evidence was given on behalf of the police to show that this notice was prepared in the house. The decision of the County Court Judge was affirmed by the Judge of Assize. The Crown do not propose to take any action in the matter.
§ MR. JOHN ROCHEI beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether Michael Mahon has eluded justice by leaving the country.
§ MR. CHERRYI am informed that Michael Mahon sailed for America from Queenstown on 26th March last.
§ MR. JOHN ROCHEAnd you let him go.