HC Deb 12 July 1888 vol 328 cc1076-7
MR. O'KEEFFE (Limerick City)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, having regard to the Charge of Mr. Justice Harrison delivered to the City of Limerick Grand Jury on last Friday, in which he stated— That, only from the fact of one case having been transferred from another county, the criminal calendar, as far as the city was concerned, would be a blank, and having regard to similar statements of the County Court Judge of Limerick— That he did not know what to do with all the white gloves he was receiving at opening of Criminal Sessions, What necessity exists for the continued proclamation of Limerick under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, and the maintenance of an extra force of police in that city?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I am happy to say that the only case for trial at the recent City Assizes of Limerick was one which was transferred from the county. The Local Authority responsible for the peace of the district reports that this satisfactory condition of affairs is due to the administration of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act; and I can give no undertaking at present to annul the proclamation by which that Act is applied to that city. The general question of how far it may be practicable to limit the extent to which Ireland is proclaimed is under consideration. There is no extra force of police in the city.