§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the claim for compensation made by Mr. George Alley, at Mullingar Quarter Sessions on the 19th instant; whether it was proved on oath that the claimant's cattle were driven to the point of exhaustion, that two beasts had their tails cut off, one having about two inches of the bone left, and that the drivers were armed with knives as well as sticks; whether the ratepayers have to pay the compensation awarded in this case; and whether any persons were made criminally amenable for this cruelty to animals.
§ MR. BIRRELLMr. Alley's claim for compensation was heard at Mullingar on the 19th instant. The police who found the cattle gave evidence that they had been over-driven, and that two of them had had their tails cut off. Compensation to the full amount claimed, £50, was awarded, and is to be levied off the county at large. The offence was committed at night by persons unknown, and in the absence of evidence the police have been unable to bring the offenders to justice.