§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Tyrone, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there are any, and, if so, how many, Catholics among the justices of the Clogher Petty Sessions district; will the police make arrangements to ascertain how many of these justices are members of the Orange Society; is it a fact that they have used their position as justices to arm the Orangemen of the district and to refuse certificates for licences to Nationalists, who are constantly subject to attacks by armed Orangemen; and, whether the state of Clogher Petty Sessions district will be brought under the notice of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I am informed that there is one Catholic magistrate, and the Resident Magistrate 1182 is also a Catholic. The Government do not think it would be proper for them to direct an inquiry into the suggestion contained in the second part of the Question. No complaint has been made to the Government as to the granting or withholding of certificates for arms' licences in this district, and the Government are not aware of any failure of duty in this respect. The hon. Member is, I suspect, aware that the issue of the licences is a matter with which the Resident Magistrate has to deal, and that gentleman is not aware of any such attacks by armed Orangemen being constantly made as alleged. I feel sure that the Lord Chancellor will be quite ready to deal with any representations from this district on the lines I have indicated in answer to a Question a few days ago.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENI will call attention to this matter on the discussion of the Estimates.