On Wednesday, the jury empanelled for the Mitchelstown inquest pronounced
their verdict. It was to the effect that County-Inspector Quin John Brownrigg, Serjeant William Kirwan, Constable Patrick Gavin, and Constable Peter Brennan "did feloniously, wilfully, and of malice aforethought kill and murder" Lonergan, Shinnick, and Casey, the three men shot in the square during the riot. After the reading of the verdict, the Coroner issued warrants for the arrest of those named,—a, course which, however, was protested against by Mr. Morphy. We suppose that the verdict will be followed by a prosecution at the Assizes. This course would be by no means to be regretted. The inquest was conducted throughout with such incoherence, with such a total want of legal precision, and with such par- tiality, that a careful investigation on oath before a competent tribunal would be in every way desirable. That the verdict is monstrous and absurd, and that the police were perfectly justi- fied in firing as they did to save their companions and protect the barracks, we ourselves feel no kind of doubt. It is to be noted that Mr. Irwin, who actually issued the order to fire, is not among the accused. His testimony pleased Mr. Harrington. It is stated that the Government intend to apply to the Court of Queen's Bench to have the proceedings at the inquest quashed, on the ground of informality.
