§ MR. JORDAN (Clare, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been directed to a report in The Kilrush Herald, County Clare, of 2nd April, of a case in which a Constable Holmes summoned Mr. Andrew Bourke, because his hound barked at the dog of Captain Welch, the Resident Magistrate; whether Holmes so swore in Court; whether Holmes, in conjunction with Head Constable Kennedy, summoned several other inhabitants of Kilrush on the same day; whether the cases wore dismissed by the other four magistrates, the Chairman (Captain Welch) alone dissenting; whether Holmes is a police recruit and Kennedy was only recently appointed to that station; whether he is aware that these summonses have caused considerable irritation in the district; and, whether he will cause an inquiry into the circumstances of the case?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I am informed that Mr. Bourke was not sum- 707 moned for the reason alleged in the Question. He was summoned in common with other persons who were charged with allowing dogs to be at large in Kilrush. The cases were dismissed by lour magistrates, who were not satisfied that the offence was proved, the Resident Magistrate dissenting from that opinion. Holmes has been a year and a-half in the service. Kennedy, the head constable, was only recently appointed to Kilrush, and these officers appear to have acted in the discharge of their duty. The summonses have not been the cause of irritation in the district, as the people were glad to have dangerous dogs kept off the streets.