HC Deb 05 March 1891 vol 351 cc260-1
MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Samuel Jagoe, J. P., at the Petty Sessions held at Ballydehob, County Cork, 16th January last, ad indicated in a case in which he had himself been examined as a witness, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Mr. Notter, J.P.; whether complaints have reached him that the deafness of Mr. Jagoe, who, though about 75 years old, has been only recently appointed to the Magistracy, is a serious inconvenience to the litigants; and whether it is intended to take any action in the matter?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am informed that, previous to the hearing of the case, the gentleman mentioned had been sitting as a Magistrate on the Bench; and, after giving evidence, he resumed his seat there. He has, however, assured the Lord Chancellor that he had no intention of taking part in the adjudication, and that, in fact, when the case was called on, he stated in open Court that he would not adjudicate upon it. No allegation, either as to deafness or as to inconvenience to litigants, has been made to the Lord Chancellor in reference to this gentleman.