Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the charge which Mr. Justice Madden delivered to the grand jury at the opening of the assizes in Galway on Friday last, in which the learned judge stated that the law in certain districts in county Galway could not be administered owing to the gross intimidation which prevailed; and whether, in view of this condition of affairs, he proposes to take any steps in these districts to restore confidence in the power of the law, and to put an end to the intimidation which exists?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have seen a newspaper report of the charge of the learned judge referred to. The police are doing all that is possible to prevent intimidation and outrage, but the difficulty is to obtain evidence against offending parties, and I am not aware of any measure that would meet the difficulty. I am happy to say that some improvement has recently taken place in the county, especially in the West Riding.