§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of persons against whom proceedings have been instituted by the police for offences connected with cattle-driving, during the twelve months ended 31st December last, and specify the results of such proceedings.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Proceedings were taken against 572 persons, with the following results—
Number of persons ordered to find bail to keep the peace 288 Number discharged 32 Number against whom informations were refused 76 Number in respect of whom proceedings are pending 40 Number dealt with on indictment (of whom five were convicted, twenty-seven acquitted, and as regards the remaining 104 the jury disagreed) 136 Total 572
§ †See (4) Debates, clxxii., 218.
369§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of cases of cattle-driving reported to the Royal Irish Constabulary, or otherwise within their cognisance, during the year ended 31st December last, the number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted, and the number of convictions obtained.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The number of cases of cattle-driving during the year 1907 was 381. Proceedings were instituted in respect of eighty-one of these. In a number of instances, however, the same persons were concerned in two or more cases of cattle-driving on the same occasion, and such cases therefore formed the subject of a single proceeding. The number of separate cases of proceedings was forty-eight. There was a conviction in one case, and in twenty-seven cases the defendants were ordered to find sureties to keep the peace.