HC Deb 01 December 1882 vol 275 cc471-2
MR. SEXTON

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it is a fact that on the 6th of July 1877, Thomas Connolly, now an Alderman in the Municipal Council of Drogheda, and high sheriff during the present year of the county of the town of Drogheda, made a declaration on oath in the Court of Common Pleas for the city and county of New York, United States of America, in the following words:—

"I, Thomas Connolly, do declare on oath that it is bonâ fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce for ever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Province, Potentate, State, or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of whom I am a subject.

Sworn this 6th day of July, 1877.

Thomas Connolly.

Nathaniel Jarvis, jr. Clerk."

Whether, if the fact be as stated, the said Thomas Connolly was eligible to be elected and to act as an alderman in the Municipal Council of Drogheda, or to be appointed to act as high sheriff of the county of the town of Drogheda; whether his tenure of those offices is legal; and, whether all or any of the acts done by him as such alderman and as such high sheriff are null and void in Law?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

Sir, I am not aware whether the facts are as stated in this Question or not; but any person interested in the matter can raise the question, if so advised, by proceeding at law in the ordinary way.

MR. SEXTON

I shall now hand the right hon. and learned Gentleman an attested copy of the declaration made in the Court of Common Pleas in New York, and I shall ask a further Question on the subject at the end of Question time.

[The hon. Member then walked across the floor of the House and placed the Paper in the hands of the Attorney General for Ireland.]

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

I appeal to you, Sir, whether this conduct is not most irregular?

MR. SPEAKER

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will use his own discretion in the matter as to what he will do with the Paper.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IERLAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

If I am in Order, the course I shall adopt is to return this document to the hon. Member in a sealed envelope. When I find the Mayor of the town elected to that duty, and fulfilling that office, I take it that primâ facie he is fully qualified to discharge that duty, and I really cannot undertake to inquire whether he is or not.