§ Mr. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the inquest held on John Stenson no evidence but that tendered by the police would be received by the coroner, and that the coroner assigned as his reason for refusing to receive evidence tendered by civilians that a magisterial investigation into the death of John Stenson would subsequently be held; what authority had the coroner for making that statement, and for refusing to hear the evidence of civilians; is he aware that persons who were in company with Stenson when he was shot are prepared to give evidence; that the refusal of the Irish Government to hold a public sworn inquiry gives colour to the belief prevalent in the locality to the effect that the police had received instructions to fire on the people; and will he see that the inquiry asked for will be held without further delay.
I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the fact that the county council of Sligo, as well as all the other representative public bodies of the county, have passed resolutions, unanimously adopted in each case, calling for a public sworn inquiry into the circumstance surrounding the death of John Stenson, which took place at Riverstown, County Sligo, on the 29th October last; whether he is aware that a similar resolution, in connection with this case, was adopted by seven magistrates assembled at the Riverstown Petty Sessions Court, on the 5th inst.; and whether, seeing that the opinion prevailing amonst all classes in the neighbourhood of Riverstown is that an inquiry should be held, he will consider the advisability of holding such inquiry on an early date.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe allegations contained in the first Question as to what took place at the coroner's inquest are new to me, and I have had no opportunity of investigating them. For my own information I will send some one in whose judgment I have confidence to make inquiries with regard to these statements, and to let me know the result. As to holding the inquiry 686 referred to in the Questions, I have nothing to add to my Answers given both to the hon. Member himself and to the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh on the 5th inst.