§ MR. KENNYasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Upon what grounds Mr. Thomas Shanly, of Clooneagh, Drumod, is refused a gun licence; if Mr. Shanly held a licence for seven years previous to his arrest, under the Coercion Act of 1881, as a suspect; if the local constable gave Mr. Shanly an excellent character, but reversed what he said within a few days, for no apparent reason; if Mr. Shanly holds about fifty acres of land, and his tillage suffers greatly, owing to his inability to protect his crops from mischievous birds; and, if it is proposed to continue Mr. Shanly under this disadvantage?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)The Licensing 417 Officer, in the exercise of his discretion vested in him by law, declines to give Mr. Shanly a gun licence. He formerly held a licence, but it was revoked by the Lord Lieutenant. The character given by the local constable has not been as stated. It has been always one justifying the refusal of the licence. Shanly holds a farm of 50 acres. I have not been informed that his crops suffer specially. The Government do not feel justified in this instance in overruling the discretion of the Licensing Officer as to the granting or withholding of a licence.