§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a young man named Francis Armstrong, of Tullycullion, Dungannon, was tried recently by court-martial in Belfast on the charge of having a revolver in his possession and also a bullet; whether he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour; whether it is a fact that the revolver which he had was of no use and the bullet would not fit it: whether men from Belfast who were charged with being in possession of automatic revolvers, and who openly declared they would use them, were fined only £1; and why there is such discrimination in these sentences?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the revolver which was found on the accused was of an old pattern, but it was not useless, and the cartridge, which, as stated, did not fit the revolver, contained an expanding bullet. With regard to the last part of the question, the sentences imposed by Courts must obviously vary1524W according to the circumstances, and I cannot admit that there has been any improper discrimination.