asked the Minister for Home Affairs on whose authority cattle belonging to James Cox, of Kilmore, Bodyke, Co. Clare, and others in the same locality, were seized in March last by a party of troops, and, it is believed, sold in Dublin; and whether steps will be taken to render account to the owners of the proceeds from the sale of these cattle.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - MILITARY CATTLE SEIZURES.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
Mr. O'HIGGINS
The cattle in question were seized by the military acting on the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, the Executive Council having agreed that the violent seizure and illegal occupation of lands throughout the country constituted a problem incapable of being adequately dealt with by civil procedure. The proceeds of the sale will be held towards meeting any compensation award that may be made to the owner of the lands.
Has an account been rendered in that case?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
An account has been rendered in each case. No account has been rendered to the owners of the seized stock, but an account is kept.
Is the owner of the seized stock not to be informed of the amount that has been realised by the sale?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
They have not been so informed.
Surely it is an obligation on those who seize the stock for sale to inform the person from whom the stock has been seized what was realised, so that they will know exactly where they stand, but not necessarily to inform the person on whose land the stock was taken. The owner of the seized stock surely ought to be informed what the amount realised was.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
In my opinion, the amount realised would be more a matter of concern to the owner of the lands than to the owners of the seized stock.
How is the debtor to know his position in relation to the owner of the land?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
It is not the relation of debtor and creditor, it is the relation of conspirator and injured person.
And the State which takes the stock refuses to give an account of the proceeds of the sale.