HC Deb 25 June 1908 vol 191 cc105-6
MR. J. MURPHY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the landlord did actually agree to leave the question as to whether there should be a sale of the evicted farm of Denis Healy, of Knockanes, county Kerry, to the planter in possession of the same to the decision of the Estates Commissioners; whether the Commissioners, in opposition to the wish of the landlord and of all others concerned, insisted upon carrying out the sale to the planter; whether the result of their action is that a police hut and four policemen have to be maintained on the farm at the public expense; whether the Commissioners are aware that Denis Healy has been committed to the lunatic asylum since their decision, and his wife left in a miserable hut near the farm in a condition of extreme poverty; and how or when they propose to afford any relief to Mrs. Healy.

MR. BIRRELL

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner was willing that they should adopt any course they deemed proper in this case. As the hon. Member has already been informed, they sanctioned an advance for the purchase of the holding to Timothy Kennedy, who was not a planter, but possessed a legal interest in the holding which had been acquired by purchase. Kennedy receives police protection, but the police hut at Knockanes does not exist solely for that purpose. The neighbouring district is policed from the station. It is the case that Denis Healy has been committed to a lunatic asylum, but I am informed that his committal was due to quite other causes than those connected with the evicted farm. The Estates Commissioners have no means of affording relief to Mrs. Healy.

MR. J. MURPHY

asked whether, in view of the difficulties from which Mrs. Healy was now suffering, something could not be done for her.

MR. BIRRELL

Unless the Commissioners can buy land, they can nothing.