HC Deb 28 February 1882 vol 266 cc1838-9
MR. CALLAN

asked, Whether the Chief Secretary for Ireland had issued, or authorised the issue, of a circular or any instructions to the stipendiary magistrates appointed to grant licences under the provisions of "The Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act, 1881," to the effect that— There is an objection, as a rule, to letting publicans have arms, or— That it would be their duty, before returning the arms deposited, to see that the owners are persons who absolutely require arms for the purpose of protecting their person or property in the case of danger, or in certain cases for the purpose of amusement; whether it is in accordance with his instructions, or has his approval, that sub-section 4 of Clause 4 of the said Act, which enacts that— If any person who may be appointed to grant licences to have or to carry arms in any district shall he bound to grant the occupier of one or more country holdings a licence to have arms, or to have and carry arms, who shall produce a certificate, signed by two justices of the peace in the same petty sessions district, that he is of their own personal knowledge a proper person to have such licence, has been disregarded by Captain Keogh, the stipendiary magistrate, during the last week, in the county of Louth; and, if the facts are as stated, whether he will inform that official that the provisions of the Act of Parliament must be complied with? In putting the Question, he said, he could only expect an answer got from the clerks in the Office. ["Oh, oh!"] By that he did not mean to cast any reflection upon the Attorney General for Ireland, who was a personal friend of his, but simply that the Attorney General for Ireland would read an answer furnished by those engaged in the Castle Government.

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

said, in reply, he did not think it was necessary, or that the House expected, that he should take any notice of the observations of the hon. Gentleman. His answer to the Question was this. No such instructions as those suggested had been given to the licensing officers; and he was informed by Captain Keogh, the resident magistrate mentioned by the hon. Member, that he had not in any case disregarded the provisions of the Peace Preservation Act, the terms of which, as quoted in the hon. Member's Question, were not strictly correct.