§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the conduct of Mr. M'Lean, resident magistrate, and other magistrates, who, at the Ardglass (county Down) petty sessions sentenced three young fellows to a month's hard labour for being drunk and disorderly on the day of the East Down election; whether he is aware that the same magistrate, at the Killyleagh petty sessions, sentenced young men of a different political party, in connection with a more serious disturbance, to nominal fines; whether, at the Saintfield petty sessions, similar charges against other Unionists were met by the imposition of nominal fines; whether the resident magistrate took a complete note of the evidence in the various cases; and whether any action has been taken with regard to the Ardglass sentences?
Captain CRAIGBefore that question is answered, may I ask whether the case at Ardglass was very different from the case at Killyleagh; whether at Ardglass the Nationalist supporters of my opponent behaved very badly indeed, throwing stones and bottles at the police; and whether they did not richly deserve all they got?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The three men who were sentenced to a month's imprisonment at Ardglass Petty Sessions for being drunk and disorderly were members of a mob which smashed windows and threw bottles and stones at the police. Certain other members of the mob were fined sums varying from 10s. 6d. to 40s. At Killyleagh Petty Sessions one defendant was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for a similar offence, and two others were fined 10s. 6d. each and ordered to find bail for their good behaviour. A note of the evidence was taken. There were no similar charges at Saintfield Petty Sessions. A 356 memorial having been submitted to the Lord Lieutenant on behalf of the three prisoners from Ardglass, His Excellency was pleased to order their release, and they were accordingly discharged after they had served two-thirds of their sentence. This exercise of the prerogative of mercy involved no reflection upon the resident magistrate or the other magistrates.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHDid the resident magistrate take a complete note of the evidence?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know; a note was taken.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHHe is a good Tory, anyhow.