§ 15. Mr. HARTSHORNasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state on what charge, and on what evidence, Messrs. Thomas O'Reilly, Bernard Reddin, and J. O'Brien, were sentenced in county Cavan, on 27th September, to one month's imprisonment?
§ Mr. SAMUELSMessrs. Thomas O'Reilly, Bernard Reddin, and Andrew O'Brien were arrested on a charge of unlawful assembly and inciting to a breach of the peace at Ballyconnell, county 540 Cavan, on the 19th August last. They were tried before a Court of Summary Jurisdiction at Cavan on the 25th September, 1918, and convicted. The evidence showed that the police were stoned, booed, and called "blood suckers" by a crowd of persons who also booed and manifested hostility to certain persons who had hired motor cars to the police. The defendants were each ordered to enter into recognisances himself in £50 and two sureties in £25 to keep the peace for twelve months, or in default one calendar month's imprisonment. They refused to give bail and were committed to gaol accordingly.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHCan the Attorney-General tell me whether it is a fact that the only evidence given against these men was that they sang the Soldier's Song?
§ Mr. SAMUELSCertainly not. The information before me shows that stones were thrown at the police.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHNot by these men. The right hon. Gentleman does not answer my question. Was not the evidence that the disorderly conduct consisted in the singing the Soldier's Song?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe charge was one of unlawful assembly and inciting to a breach of the peace.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHI asked what was the evidence on which the charge was supported. Is it not the fact that the evidence simply was that they sang the Soldier's Song?
§ Mr. SAMUELSCertainly not. I gave the evidence. The information was that the police were stoned and booed and called "blood suckers" by a large crowd.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill the Attorney-General give a straight answer to a straight question? Was the evidence given against those men that they sang the Soldiers' Song?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI have no information about that. I dare say they did.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHI have. I can give it.