Parnell had a long-standing relationship with Mrs. Kitty O'Shea. Years later, when Irish Home Rule threatened to be successful her husband, Captain O'Shea, who'd known and apparently not objected to the relationship, filed a divorce and cited Parnell as co-respondent. Parnell was disgraced and deserted by most of his own party. There has been a whiff of suspicion ever since that someone, somewhere may have paid good money to Captain O'Shea for getting divorced... That's just off the top of my head. If anyone is interested I could look up more when I get home. - Susanne