HC Deb 20 July 1915 vol 73 cc1315-6
15. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether it is in accordance with Irish practice for a police officer to ask witnesses in open Court whether they have received German gold for attending to give false evidence; whether he will state the source and nature of the information on which that accusation was made against Kerry peasants at Cahirciveen Petty Sessions; seeing that the police magistrate disregarded the evidence of the witnesses so questioned, whether those persons will now be tried under the Defence of the Realm Act for their criminal receipt of German gold for a criminal purpose; and, if so, by what Court?

The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)

I have been asked by the Attorney-General for Ireland to answer this question. With regard to the first part of it I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on the 7th instant. The answers to the remaining parts are in the negative.

Mr. GINNELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us—as I expected the Attorney-General would—who has conferred upon police officers in Ireland the privilege, denied to counsel in this country by the best judges, of slandering witnesses in open Court?

Mr. BIRRELL

Nobody has.

Mr. GINNELL

What action will the Irish Government take with reference to the officers who have done that?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have told the hon. Member before in this case that the officer who asked the question had information which in his opinion justified the question.

Mr. GINNELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Paper— [Interruption]—whether those persons are going to be tried for this crime—[Interruption]—of receiving German gold —for a criminal offence; if so, before what Court—that is on the Paper?

Mr. BIRRELL

I said the answer to that was in the negative.

Mr. GINNELL

Does the right hon. Gentleman expect the House to accept that as impartial administration of the law?