HC Deb 20 July 1910 vol 19 cc1249-50
Captain COOPER

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that in connection with the proceedings taken against Richard J. Walsh, a tenant on the Kilmurry estate, near Castleisland, county Kerry, for ejectment for non-payment of rent, resolutions were passed by the Tralee Rural District Council and the Kerry County Council in support of the tenant; if these bodies were subsequently the defendants in a claim by the trustees of the Kilmurry estate and another person for malicious injuries; if he will state the amount of damages and costs recovered by the different plaintiffs and the amount of [...]he rate struck to defray the same, together with the loss entailed upon the ratepayers through the non-payment of rates by the late tenant; whether he will direct the attention of the Local Government Board to the resolutions passed by the Tralee Rural District Council and the Kerry County Council; and whether he will state what steps have been taken to bring the perpetrators of the malicious injuries at Kilmurry in June, 1909, to justice?

Mr. BIRRELL

I understand that resolutions to the effect mentioned in the question were passed by the local bodies referred to, who were subsequently defendants in claims for compensation for malicious injury as stated in the question. Compensation and costs amounting in all to £200 were allowed, necessitating the striking of a rate of 1s. 4d. in the £ on three electoral divisions. The amount of rates owing by the tenant at the time of his eviction was £12 14s. 7d. It is not necessary for me to call the attention of the Local Government Board to the resolutions of county or district councils which come before the Board in the ordinary course of business. The police were unable to obtain such evidence as would justify a prosecution for malicious injury against any particular person.