§ Mr. Sergeant Jacksoninformed the House that Mr. O'Malley was in attendance. He moved that he be called to the Bar to be reprimanded and discharged.
§ The Speakeraddressed him to the following effect:—"William Frederick O'Malley, this House has found that you have been guilty of aiding and abetting a witness in absconding to avoid giving his testimony before a 154 Committee of this House. In weighing the guilt of those persons who have violated the privileges of this House in connexion with the proceedings of the Committee to whom the petition on the merits of the return of the writ from Ipswich was referred, the House has had no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that those who so aided and abetted witnesses in absconding are those who, in the judgment of this House, are deserving of the severest reprobation. It is with peculiar pain that I am called upon to state this to a gentleman of the profession to which I myself have the honour to belong; and I hope that, in discharging the duty now imposed upon me, the House will excuse me if I dwell with less severity, than perhaps in strictness I ought, on the observations arising on the petition first presented by you to this House, and the other circumstances connected with this case. Saying that in aiding and abetting an individual to absent himself, to avoid giving evidence which it was his duty to give, you were ignorant you were violating the privileges of this House, is an excuse this House can receive from no man, and least of all from a person in your station. You, who attended the Committee as counsel, must be well aware of the obstruction which has been thrown in the way of the administration of justice by the absence of the witness whom you aided to abscond. This is a transaction upon which I am sure you will never hereafter reflect but with regret. Relying upon this, upon the assurances you have given, and deeply impressed by the statement made in your behalf with respect to the condition of your health, the House has been induced in its lenity to discharge you more speedily than others who committed the same offence with yourself; and trusting you will bear in mind, and always reflect with gratitude on the kindness and indulgence of the House, I have now to acquaint you that you are discharged on payment of your fees.
§ On the motion of Lord John Russell, the reprimand was ordered to be entered on the Journals.