asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he will state why the Land Commission refused to sanction the sale of a farm at Cregane, County Limerick (which sale took place at Charleville on 6th June, 1928), to a purchaser who offered reserved price, covering arrears of annuities, at a public auction, and with a deposit of 25 per cent.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SALE OF CHARLEVILLE FARM.
A holding in the townland of Cregane, comprising 130a. 3r. 15p., was vested on 27th March, 1913, in Jeremiah Quaid as tenant-purchaser under the Irish Land Act, 1903, subject to a Land Purchase Annuity of £92 2s. 2d. The purchaser died on the 27th December, 1914, and letters of administration of his personal estate were granted to his widow, Margaret Quaid, who afterwards married Richard O'Gorman. The instalments of the land purchase annuity fell into arrear, and the Land Commission were obliged to take proceedings for their recovery, with the result that the holding was put up by the Land Commission on the 6th instant for sale by public auction for the recovery of three years' land purchase annuity and expenses, total £283 7s. 3d. The only bidder at the auction was the said Richard O'Gorman; he signed the conditions of sale and paid the sum of £88 15s. as deposit on the purchase money. The Land Commissioners refused to confirm the sale to the husband of the defaulting annuity payer and returned the deposit to the auctioneer with instructions to return it to O'Gorman with any fees he might have paid. It would appear that a dispute exists between the children of the late owner and their step-father, the prospective purchaser O'Gorman, and legal proceedings may arise in consequence thereof.