Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he could state on whose recommendation the Lord Lieutenant acted in releasing the three young men who were sentenced at the Ardglass Petty Sessions to a month's hard labour for being drunk and disorderly on the day of the East Down election; whether the local county inspector, Royal Irish Constabulary, or the resident magistrate were consulted before he took that action; and whether he was aware that the police evidence went to show that the language of one of the party was so vile as to outrage humanity, and that windows were smashed and bottles and stones thrown at the police, that with regard to a second he behaved like a madman, urged the crowd to rush the barracks, and flung a bottle charged with sand at the sergeant, while the third was most boisterous and assaulted the police?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs regards the facts of this case I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for South Down yesterday. I cannot discuss the grounds on which the Lord Lieutenant was pleased to exercise the prerogative of mercy.
Captain CRAIGWas the resident magistrate or the local county inspector among the authorities consulted on such an important matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not prepared to say who was consulted by the Lord Lieutenant. He was fully informed of the circumstances of the case.
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo.