THE MARQUESS OF WESTMEATH,having detailed the circumstances of the assault upon Catherine Geoghan, and the censure which the Irish Government had passed upon Sub-Inspector Burke, of the Irish Constabulary, for his conduct in that matter, said, he desired to know upon what authority, or on whose recommendation, a pension had been granted to that officer. He had been informed, from the office of the Lord Lieutenant, that it was the Treasury that granted these pensions and fixed the amount. The noble Marquess concluded by moving—
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for, Copy of any Recommendation or Certificate sent by the Irish Government to the late Board of Treasury for a Pension or Superannuation Allowance to be granted to Mark Burke, late Sub-Inspector of the Irish Police Force, subsequent to his Trial for his Neglect and Refusal to do his Duty at Ballisodare on the 26th of January 1865."—(The Marquess of Westmeath.)
§ THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, he must confess his entire ignorance of the case, except what he had heard stated by the noble Marquess, and the answers which had been given by the late Government. He must acknowledge considerable ignorance as to the mode of granting pensions in such cases. If the pensions were referred to the Treasury of this country, who could not by possibility know anything about the facts, it must be upon the responsibility of the Irish Government. If the warrant were produced, the noble Marquess would be unable to see on what ground the recommendation was made, and his stock of information on this subject would not be increased. Under these circumstances, the noble Marquess would probably be satisfied with having placed his views before the House, and would not press the Motion.
§ Motion (by Leave of the House) withdrawn.