CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a licensing case tried at Castle Martyr (County Cork) Petty Sessions on the 24th of April, when Mrs. Corry, publican, and Messrs. Scannell, Barry, and Kinsella, of that town, were summoned by Sergeant Jestin, R.I.C., for a breach of the Sunday Closing Act; whether he is aware that many of the statements made by the sergeant were not corroborated by the other constable present, and were disproved by subsequent witnesses; whether he is also aware that the Magistrates unanimously dismissed all the charges; and whether, in view of the admission of Sergeant Jestin, when under cross-examination, that he was not on friendly terms with one of the defendants, a school teacher, whose prospects might have been seriously compromised by a conviction, the Constabulary Authorities will order a sworn inquiry into all the circumstances connected with these proceedings?
MR. J. MORLEYThe facts are as staled in the first paragraph. I am informed that only one statement made by the sergeant was uncorroborated by the other constable present, and that the witnesses who disproved the sergeant's statement were the defendants in the case. The Magistrates unanimously dismissed all the charges. The solicitor for the school teacher stated in Court that no suggestion of anything was made except that the police had made a mistake, and as the case has been already investigated at Petty Sessions, the Inspector General does not consider that any useful object would be gained by a further investigation as suggested.
CAPTAIN DONELANUnder the circumstances, will the right hon. Gentleman request the Constabulary Authorities to consider the desirability of transferring Sergeant Jestin to another station?
MR. J. MORLEYI do not think I can suggest that; but I will call the attention of the authorities to the matter.