HC Deb 09 December 1890 vol 349 cc755-6
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland when the first warrant for Mr. Walsh, of theCashel Sentinel, was signed, and who signed it, and on what ground was it delayed?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN, Dublin University)

I have already said that the County Court Judge, with whom the matter rested, is not under the control of the Government.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Why was the second warrant held over and not put in force? Under what statute did the police act?

MR. MADDEN

I have already told the hon. Member that the second warrant was put in force after the termination of the imprisonment under the first warrant. This course is in compliance with the regulation of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

MR. T. M. HEALY

This is a matter of vital importance. I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that there is no statute, and that it was only the regulations of the Constabulary that were acted upon. Are those regulations in accordance with the law? I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman as a lawyer to examine the statute, and to see whether what has taken place is in accordance with the Petty Sessions Act. Will he as a lawyer say that the Royal Constabulary Code is in conformity with the statute?

MR. MADDEN

Yes.