HC Deb 03 November 1909 vol 12 cc1815-7
Mr. MacCAW

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say at what date the holding on the estate of Lord Ormathwaite, in county Kerry, from which T. Walsh had been evicted, was retaken by John Foran; on what date was Foran murdered; whether the holding was tenanted or otherwise since the latter occurrence and prior to the reinstatement of Walsh; and, if so, by whom?

Mr. BIRRELL

The holding in question was taken by Foran in January, 1884. He was murdered in July, 1888. His son, who never used the farm, gave it up to the landlord in 1892, and it was worked by a caretaker up to the time of Walsh's reinstatement.

Mr. MacCAW

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what was the date on which T. Walsh was evicted from his holding on the estate of Lord Ormathwaite, county Kerry; what was the annual rental of the holding prior to his eviction; what was the amount of the arrears of rent for which he was decreed; what are the amounts, respectively, of the advance to Walsh for the purchase of the evicted holding and of the annuity payable by him; and whether any portion of the grant of £120 to him by the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of cattle is repayable in his annuity.

Mr. BIRRELL

I am informed that Walsh was evicted on 4th April, 1883. His rent was £66, and he was one year in arrear. He has been reinstated by the Commissioners on his undertaking to purchase the holding for £762 to be advanced to him under the Land Purchase Acts and repaid by an annuity of £24 15s. 4d. No portion of the grant for the purchase of stock is repayable in the annuity.

Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGH

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has the slightest reason to believe that there is any foundation for the suggestion put in these questions that there is any connection between the evicted tenant and the murder?

Mr. BIRRELL

I did not for a moment suppose that there was any such innuendo contained in the question. On the evidence it is perfectly clear that there is no possible reason whatsoever for the suggestion that there was implication in the murder by the evicted tenant.

Mr. MacVEAGH

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to ask whether, having regard to the ruling you gave a few weeks ago on the same question con- veying the same insinuation, it is in order for an hon. Member to repeat the insinuation now in a further question?

Mr. SPEAKER

Is there any insinuation? The Chief Secretary for Ireland says he did not observe any, and I am no quicker than he.

Mr. MacVEAGH

May I point out with all respect that unless there is an insinuation there is no possible object in bringing into the question repeated references to the murder? There is an obvious suggestion.

Mr. SPEAKER

It was not obvious to me or to the Chief Secretary.