HC Deb 19 February 1908 vol 184 cc825-6
MR. DUFFY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he can state how far the Estates Commissioners were successful in negotiating terms of purchase between Lord Gough, owner of the property in the Gort and Kilbecanty districts, county Galway, and the tenants; whether Mr. Frank Persse, J.P., agent of the property, while negotiations were pending, passed through the district of Kilbecanty on the evening of the 22nd January last, and fired several rifle shots, to the fear and terror of the people; and, if so, is it the intention of the authorities to prosecute in this matter.

MR. CHEERY

In reply to the first part of the Question, I can only repeat my right hon. friend's reply to a similar Question put by the hon. Member on 9th May last, namely, "The Estates Commissioners have had several interviews with Lord Gough and the tenants' representative, and as a result the landlord agreed to sell the tenanted holdings at such prices as the Commissioners should consider reasonable, and also to sell such untenanted lands as the Commissioners should think necessary at the Commissioners' price. Lord Gough, however, made it a condition that the sporting right's should be reserved to him as he intended to reside at Lough Cutra, and upon the tenants demurring to this he offered to agree that if the tenants' crops should be damaged by game, he would pay such compensation as the Land Commission might consider proper. Lord Gough's offer appeared to the Commissioners to be reasonable, but the tenants refused to accept it, and the negotiations, therefore, came to an end. The Commissioners do not see that they can take any further action in the matter." As regards the remainder of the Question, Mr. Frank Persse was summoned by the police for discharging firearms on or near the public road, and the case was adjourned from the 6th instant until tomorrow, when it will be heard.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Will the Government bring the conduct of this gentleman under the notice of the Lord Chancellor?

MR. CHERRY

I should like to know the result of the proceedings to-morrow first.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

But the right hon. Gentleman knows well the result of the proceedings at the police court when he was fined 10s.