HL Deb 30 June 1864 vol 176 cc492-3

THE EARL OF LEITRIM moved That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for

  1. "1. Copy of the Informations of Theresa Keenan, taken before J. Tyrell Byrne, Esquire, J. P., at Drumsna, in the county of Leitrim, on the 2nd day of April, 1864, relative to some Win dows being broken at Eskeragh alias Esker South, in the Parish of Mohill, Barony of Mohill, and County of Leitrim, between the 24th and 30th days of March, 1864: Also,
  2. "2. Copy of the Police Reports and Correspondence relative to the breaking of the above-mentioned Windows, and the taking of the said Theresa Keenan by the Police before a Magistrate: And also,
  3. "3. Copy of the Warrant, if any, authorizing the police to take the said Theresa Keenan before a magistrate."
The noble Earl stated the substance of his charge against the police to be that they had gone into the bed-room of Theresa Keenan, who was a schoolmistress, had cross-questioned her there, and had afterwards forcibly taken her before a police magistrate; though all she could say when there was that she did not know who it was that broke the windows. He also asserted that repeated outrages were committed by the police in Ireland, and instanced the annoyances to which he had himself been subjected. It might be said that he should communicate with the Government in Ireland; but that was impossible after what had happened. It was the fashion to say that the Lord Lieutenant was a good natured and kind-hearted man; but he (the Earl of Leitrim) looked upon him as a traitor to his Queen, his religion, and his country.

EARL GRANVILLE

declined to defend the conduct of his noble Friend the Lord Lieutenant against the assertions which had been made. He had no objection to produce the informations; correspondence there was none; it was not the custom to produce police reports; and warrant there was none, for the young woman had gone before the magistrate voluntarily.

THE EARL OF LEITRIM

asserted that it was utterly untrue that she had gone voluntarily; for he had positive information that she was taken after repeated remonstrances on her part.

Motion for an Address for Copy of the Informations of Theresa Keenan, taken before J. Tyrell Byrne, Esquire. J. P., at Drumsna, in the County of Leitrim, on the 2nd day of April, 1864, relative to some Windows being broken at Eskeragh alias Esker South, in the Parish of Mohill, Barony of Mohill, and County of Leitrim, between the 24th and 30th days of March, 1864,

Agreed to.