HC Deb 26 August 1887 vol 320 cc11-3
MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Upon what date was Major Traill, R.M., appointed the tem porary charge of the Mullingar District during the absence of Colonel Bowlby; how many Petty Sessions has he attended since; what extra salary is he receiving while in charge of the district; whether information has reached him that, at the Petty Sessions held at Clonmellon on the 16th instant, the entire time of the Court was taken up in hearing cases arising out of an agrarian dispute between Major Traill and Mr. Butler, J.P.; whether, during the hearing of one of the cases relating to a right of way, it transpired that Major Traill, previous to the hearing of the case, obtained a warrant for the arrest of a Mr. Boylan (Mr. Butlers land steward), who was detained in custody for several hours; can he state on whose responsibility was the arrest made; and, whether the Government will grant an inquiry into the circumstances of the case?

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said: Major Traill was appointed to take the temporary charge of the Mullingar District on the 1st of the month. He attended one Petty Sessions. He was not in receipt of any extra salary for the temporary duty. As regards the Petty Sessions of Clonmellon on the 10th, the entire time occupied by the business of the Court was an hour and a-half. There appeared to have been a case arising out of the case between Mr. Butler and Major Traill, who were joint tenants in an estate. That case was first. Boylan was arrested; but was admitted to bail at the next Petty Session, on August 16. The warrant for his arrest was issued on an information made by Major Traill, that Boylan had obstructed the passage to Major Traill's premises by digging a trench across the gateway.

MR. TUITE

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has not stated whether the issue of the warrant was legal or not?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

referred the hon. Member to the Attorney General for Ireland.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON) (Liverpool, Walton)

said, that if the warrant was illegal that would be a case for civil proceedings against the magistrate who issued the warrant, and as Attorney General he did not think he should express an opinion upon the matter.

MR. TUITE

Assuming the warrant to be illegal, does the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that Major Traill is a proper person to administer the Criminal Law and Procedure Act in Ireland?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That is an assumption, not a question.