§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. A. W. Samuels)I beg to move
That the Bill be now read a second time.This is a Bill for the protection of the police and magistracy of Ireland. As far back as 1836 provision was made for compensation to be paid to officers and men of the police or other persons or their representatives if in the discharge of their duty they were injured in bringing persons to justice. The provisions extended to cases where persons were either murdered or maimed previous to the trial of any person against whom they had laid information, or were prepared to give evidence, or, if a trial had taken place, where they had been maimed, injured, or assassinated on account of their having given such evidence. Those provisions continue up to the present time, but a very narrow construction was given some years ago to the effect of that particular Statute of 1836, and it was decided by the Court of Appeal that unless it were proved that the assassination or maiming had 2141 taken place on account of the particular exertions of the individual to bring the person to trial, he or his representatives would not be entitled to compensation.
§ It being a Quarter-past Eight of the Clock, and leave having been given to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order 10, further Proceeding was postponed without Question put.