asked the Minister for Justice if he will state upon what information John O'Brien, of Ballinacrusha, Cobh, Co. Cork, was arrested and remanded on a charge of conspiracy; and if he will also state by whose instructions the State Solicitor, representing the Attorney-General, appeared to prosecute Mr. O'Brien at a recent sitting of the Cork District Court, where informations were refused against Mr. O'Brien after the failure of the prosecution to produce evidence to connect him with the charge.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - COBH ARRESTS.
Two auctions of a farm at Kilbarry, Co. Cork, were rendered abortive by the action of the South of Ireland Evicted Tenants and Sympathisers Association. On the sworn information of the aggrieved party, John O'Brien, chairman; Daniel Hogan, secretary, and Charles Hayes, a prominent member of the Association, were arrested. Hayes was formerly tenant of the lands but was evicted in 1890, and in 1892 transferred all his goodwill, if any, in the lands to the new tenant on payment of £250. The State Solicitor conducted the prosecution on the instructions of the Attorney-General. The case was heard in the District Court on the 18th May last, when Hogan and Hayes were returned for trial to the Circuit Court. Informations were refused against O'Brien on the grounds that although he was chairman of the association which was clearly responsible for the interference with the auction no evidence could be produced to prove that he personally interfered with the auction. I cannot agree that any injustice was done to O'Brien in arresting him.