§ MR. T. R. O'CONNOR (for Mr. SEXTON)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that at the conclusion of the Louth (county Louth) Petty Sessions on a recent day, several residents of the village were desired by the police to come before the Justices, Captain Keogh, R.M., Captain Filgate, D.L., Mr. Poster, 1268 and Mr. J. C. Kieran, and on the appearance in Court of Messrs. John Taaffe, Richard Marmion, and Ryan, they were asked by Captain Keogh, R.M., if they would permit their names to be used as complainants in proceedings for the removal of a structure erected on the fair green of the village, to serve as a meeting place for the local branch of the National League; and, on the refusal of the inhabitants to allow their names to be used in the manner desired by Captain Keogh, he declared that he would have the building removed, and the parties who erected it prosecuted; and, whether, if the facts be as stated, Captain Keogh had any right, either to summon before him persons in the manner described, or to invite them to take the course described?
§ MR. TREVELYANI am informed that the facts of this case are as follows. The hut has been erected on the fair green, which is a common. At Petty Sessions, on the 12th instant, Captain Keogh, the Resident Magistrate, told a constable to have word sent to some of the principal residents in the village to ascertain their opinion as to whether the hut was an obstruction to public rights. Messrs. Taaffe, Marmion, and Ryan attended the Sessions; and when asked by Captain Keogh whether they had anything to say on the subject, they said they would not interfere. The Resident Magistrate then said that as they did not seem to take any interest in the case he would see what could be done about it, as it was too bad to have the common encroached upon. I have not heard what has been done since.