asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether any further action has been taken to identify and charge (1) the persons who organised the armed party which invaded Mohill, County Leitrim, on the night of the 28th-29th April, and burned the platform which had been prepared for a public meeting, and obstructed the roads in the neighbourhood with stones and felled trees; and (2) the persons who composed the armed party who committed these acts; and if he will state the number of persons, if any, who have been so identified and charged with these offences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Leitrim Incidents.
The prosecutions arising out of this case were disposed of at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on the 18th instant. A full account of the proceedings has already appeared in the public Press.
Will the Minister state the number of persons who have been identified in connection with this offence and the number charged?
I could give the Deputy that information if I had got notice.
The Minister was asked for that information in the question I put down.
Oh, no.
Is the Minister aware that the State Solicitor stated at the trial that shots were fired and an attempt made to take the Civic Guard Barracks, and that in the course of his evidence Superintendent Ryan said: "I have no hesitation in saying, from the information in my hands, that there was an organised attempt to seize the barracks and run the Guards out of Mohil"; and that the District Justice, after hearing the case, stated that the Gárda Barracks would have been burned to the ground but for the action of the Superintendent and the Gárda. In circumstances of such a grave kind, is this House not to have information as to the number of persons charged and the number identified as responsible for the occurrence?
The Deputy's question was not on that line at all. He asked about the persons who organised the armed party which invaded Mohill; I have no information as to who organised this attack except to get the evidence of people as to who composed this unlawful party. The people who have been identified have been prosecuted. If further evidence can be obtained by the Guards as to any other people who composed the party, those people will be dealt with in the same way.
Will the Minister say whether it was on his instructions that, on the persons charged agreeing to be tried by the District Justice, the charge of conspiracy was altogether withdrawn as well as the charge of having a revolver with a view to endangering life.
I gave no such instructions to the Gárda.
Will the Minister say what his policy is in the condition of things that is apparently disclosed here, where, because a number of persons charged condescend to be tried by the District Justice, certain grave charges are withdrawn, whereas in other cases not nearly as serious the persons concerned are being sent before the Military Tribunal?
That is quite a different question.