AFFAIRS IN IRELAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9116, 23 December 1907, Page 1

AFFAIRS IN IRELAND.

« MR GINNELL'S INFLAMMATORY SPEECH. A SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS' j IMPRISONMENT. United Press Association — By J3l«cirio Telegraph — Copyright. LONDON, December 21. The Land Judges' Court at Dublin ordered Mr Gvnnell, M.P., who did not appear, to be arrested and' imprisoned for six months for contempt of Court in connection with a speech at Kilekeer. Mr Justice Ross decided that the speech was a. crime. He wished it to' be clearly understood that the prosecution had not been undortakeii at the instance of the Irish Government. The cattle-driving movement had demoralised the people to an extent unequalled within his memory. "Wrongdoers laughed at the authorities' futile efforts, and the King's subjects no longer had confidence in the efficacy of the law in the protection of property and liberty. In the present case the defendant dared to turn that swollen tide of lawlessness and violence upon an estate that was under the Court's immediate protection. Mr Lawrence Ginneil, Nationalist member for Westmeath North, has in ms speeches for months past incited the cattle-drivers. The speech in regard to which he has been sentenced to imprisonment for six months was made at Kilskeer early in December! He declared that Mr Augustine Birrell s promise to do what the people wanted, if the demand were made with sufficient courage and energy, meant that they o'ught to pursue cattle-driv-ing vigorously.