§ MR. W. JOHNSTONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he has received information of a case that is alleged to have occurred in Belfast, on the 20th of April last, when the resident magistrate refused to accept publicans as bail, and when, it is stated, they were threatened with the loss of their licences if they offered themselves as bailsmen; and, if such action has the sanction of Government?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON,in reply, said, he had made inquiry, and was informed that Mr. O'Donnell, the resident magistrate at Belfast, had not refused to accept publicans as bail on account of their being publicans, but on account of the bail tendered not being sufficient. It had been further stated that the publicans in question had been informed by the Sub-Inspector of Constabulary, that they would lose their licences if they became bail in certain cases; but the Sub-Inspector denied that he had made use of any such expression. What he did say was, that they should he careful how they became bail in connection with charges of resisting the police.