§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the General in command of the Curragh district has been recently appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the county of Kildare; on whose recommendation this appointment, if made, has taken place; whether there is any precedent for appointing a military officer in times of peace to a civil magistracy in the district where he commands; whether there are not five magistrates (exclusive of the military officer referred to) available for duty within a radius of four miles around the Curragh; and, whether steps will be taken to prevent the military magistrate from acting judicially in proceedings which he, acting in his military capacity, may have directed to be instituted?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERYes, Sir, it is true that General Seymour, the officer commanding the troops at the Curragh, has been appointed a magistrate for the county Kildare. The appointment was made upon the recommendation of Lord Drogheda, the lieutenant of the county. As to a precedent, I understand that the Admiral commanding at Queenstown discharges similar duties. The hon. Gentleman is, I have no doubt, correct in his statement respecting the number of other magistrates in the neighbourhood of the Curragh; but with regard to the suggestion he makes at the end of his Question, I do not think there would be any danger of the gallant officer concerned acting as a magistrate in any case in which he was an interested party.