§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that sixteen men, charged at Tuam with having driven the cattle of Patrick Newall off his farm at Woodquay, admitted the offence; whether these men were in negotiation for the sale of this farm; and whether, in accordance with the pledge that persons who have taken part in cattle-driving will not be permitted to share in the distribution of lands, he will draw the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the fact that these men are disqualified.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt is the fact that the sixteen persons who were charged with having driven cattle off the farm in question admitted the offence. These persons, who were mostly boys, were not in negotiation for the purchase of the farm. I have referred the hon. Member's Question to the Estates Commissioners, who inform me that they cannot identify the matter as one in which proceedings for sale have been instituted before them.