Star.
London, England, 1824-02-12 00:00:00

CONDUCT OF POLICE MEN IN IRELAND.

Mr. GRATTAN rose, pursuant to his notice, to move
for copies of the proceedings before a Coroner's Jury,
on an inquest held on the body of one M'Can. It ap-
peared from the information which the Honourable
Gentleman had received, that the unfortunate sufferer
was an agent employed in the collection of lents, in the
barony of Strathbane. He was returning to his borne,
when he entered a public-house, where he met several
of the tenants from whom he was to receive rent. The
Police-officers came afterwards into the same house,
and caused a riot and affray, in the course of which the
agent was killed. The Honourable Gentleman said his
information went on to state, that an inquest had been
held on the body, at which two surgeons attended, who
swore that the death of the deceased was occasioned by
an inflammation of the bowels; and that upon this evi-
dence the Jury acquitted the Police-officer, notwith-
standing the dying declaration of the victim, who said
that he had been killed by the Police-man. The Ho-
nourable Gentleman did not know whether the Police-
man was still at large, or whether any proceedings had
been taken again•t him. He was, however, induced to
make the present motion in the hope of calling the at-
tention of the Magistrates to the conduct of this descrip-
tion of men, who, in the county where this transaction
occurred, were notorious for the commission of violent
and illegal acts. They were often taken up, sometimes
removed ; but never, that he had been able to learn,
discharged. The consequence was, that the Publk had
no confidence in the administration of justice, as reH
garded them ; and it was with a view to remedy the
existing abuses, by the adoption of some ulterior mea-
sures, that he now moved for copies of the proceedings
on the Coroner's inquest on the body of Michael M'Can.
Mr. HUME seconded the motion.
Mr. GOULBURN thought, that without going into
the facts of the case, the Honourable Gentleman would
agree that it was not at present advisable to adopt such
a measure as he had proposed. He had received no infor•
mation from Ireland respecting this case; but even sup-
posing the statement of the Honourable Gentleman to
be, as it probably was, quite correct, still he thought
that upon general principles his motion ought not to
be acceded to. An individual came by his death in A
public-house, and the Coroner's Jury were of opinion
that he died in the course of nature. Suppose the police
officer had actually murdered this man, he (Mr. Goul-
burn) would ask the Honourable Gentleman, whether
he thought by the publication of the evidence on the
Inquest, he was more likely to obtain justice on the
criminal, or whether he would not rather enable him
to shape ;:is defence so as to evade it? The Honourable
Gentleman knew very well, that the verdict of the Jury
not preclude the ti ial of the police-officer, and even
at this moment he might have been indicted by the
family of the deceased, or the local Government might
have niterlored, if they saw any necessity for doing so.
He would ask the Honourable Gentleman, knowing, as
he did, the state of the part of Ireland now alluded to,
whether he did not think that the publication of the
evidence which he now sought might not be highly
injurious, by giving the accused an op, ortnnity of
getting out of the way, or adopting some of the other
expedients which were too frequent in that part of the
country for eluding tt e pursuit of justice ? He was as
anxious as the flolioui Aisle Gentleman could be to see
the police-officers puni•hed whenever they acted impro•
perly, and no kss desirous that they should be protected
the faithful di-charge of their duty.

Mr. GRATTAN was only desirous to excite a proper attention
to this subject, and if the Right Honour:tide Gentleman would pro-
mise to take the case under his own care, and adopt such proceed-
ings as might be necessary, he would gladly leave it in his hands,
and withdraw his 'alocion.

Mr. GOULBURN would not pledge himself to commence a
prosecution in a crse of which he knew nothing, but he wou:d
make inquiries into it, and what justice required should be done.
Mr. GRATTAN said he was satislied, and withdrew his motion,