asked the Minister for Justice if he will reconsider the sentence of three months hard labour imposed on Patrick Glennon, of Gaulstown, Collinstown, Westmeath, passed on him for the non-payment of a debt due to the Fore Co-operative Society.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WESTMEATH SENTENCE.
Patrick Glennon was sued by the Fore and Collinstown Co-operative Society for £20 14s. 4d. in respect of seeds and manures supplied to him. An examination order as to his means was subsequently granted to the plaintiffs and at Castlepollard District Court on 9th March, 1927, an order was issued directing him to pay the debt by instalments of ten shillings per month. The defendant failed to comply with the order, and on 25th February, 1928, at the suit of the Society he was committed to prison for three months under the Enforcement of Court Orders Act (1926). I cannot interfere between party and party in a civil case.
Is the Minister aware that Patrick Glennon is in a condition of extreme poverty owing to his failure in the cattle trade; that he has eleven dependents, and in view of these facts will he consider the remission of the remaining portion of the sentence?
If the Deputy had listened to my answer he would have understood the matter. I said that I cannot interfere between party and party in a civil case. Before this order could have been made against this man in order to make him pay his debt to the Co-operative Society by instalments, the Justice must have been satisfied that he had means so to do.