§ MR. FAYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention had been called to a Correspondence which lately appeared in the public press of Ireland, to the effect that a person named William James Devlin, now an absconded bankrupt, has been recently appointed a justice of the peace for the county of Tyrone, his recommendation, according to the correspondence, having been based upon the fact "of his being a prominent Orangeman, and one likely to be a useful magistrate in a party riot;" whether the present Administration acted upon such a recommendation; and, if not, who is responsible for the fact of a person obtaining a judical position on the merits of his religious partizanship; whether the supersedeas issued (according to the Chief Secretary's statement of the 15th inst.) was issued on account of Devlin's bankruptcy, or in consequence of the correspondence which disclosed the fact that those who recommended him for the magistracy based his claim to the commission on his being a leading Orangeman; and whether he has any objection to furnish to this House a Return of justices of the peace appointed for Ulster County since 1st March, 1874, specifying their names and religious persuasions, and also specifying such of them as are Orangemen?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I have seen no correspondence in which it is stated that Mr. Devlin was recommended for appointment as a justice of the peace for county Tyrone on the ground of "his being a prominent Orangeman, and one likely to be a useful magistrate in a party riot." If such a statement has been made, it is not true with regard to any part taken by the Government in the matter; and I am informed by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, with whom the appointments of county magistrates originate, that no such recommendation was made to him. But I have seen a correspondence from which it appears that Mr. Devlin, who was chairman of the town commissioners of Cookstown, and as such an ex-officio magistrate for that town, and who was also vice-chairman of the Board of Guardians of the Union, was recommended to the Lord Lieutenant of county Tyrone for appointment as a justice of the peace by memorials signed by the town commissioners of Cookstown, by the hon. Member for Dungannon (Mr. Dickson), who sits opposite, by a member of the National Board of Education in Ireland, by six magistrates, many clergymen, solicitors, and other professional men; and last, not least, by four Roman Catholic priests, and at least 50 other persons who are stated to be Roman Catholics. In these circumstances I would leave it to the House to judge whether it is fair, on the part of the hon. Member, to suggest that a person who at the time of his appointment seems to have been considered by all classes and creeds to occupy not only a responsible, but a leading position in the neighbourhood, "obtained a judical position on the merits of his religious partizanship." Mr. Devlin has been, as I stated yesterday, superseded by the Lord Chanceller, in consequence of circumstances connected with his bankruptcy. A Return of justices of the peace appointed for every county in Ireland since March 1, 1874, was presented to the House towards the end of last Session, on the Motion of the hon. and gallant Member for Galway (Captain Nolan). It contained only the names of the gentlemen appointed, and I think it would be extremely invidious to specify the religious persuasion of those gentlemen. Besides, the Government have neither the means of obtaining information on this point, 470 far less the means of obtaining information whether they are Orangemen or not.
§ MR. FAYwas proceeding to complain that the right hon. Gentleman had not fully answered his Question, when—
§ MR. SPEAKERobserved that the hon. Member had received an answer to his Question. If the hon. Member desired to put a further Question he should give a Notice on the subject.
§ MR. FAYsaid, that not being allowed to make an explanation, he should move the Adjournment of the House. The right hon. Baronet had stated that there was no correspondence containing the words in question—
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon Member is now entering into debate, which is quite out of Order.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACHThe hon. Member misunderstood me. I did not say there was no correspondence. All I said was that I had not seen any.