§ MR. J. R. YORKEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following extract from the "Daily Express" of last week:— 151
A deputation of the citizens waited on Judge Barry, at his lodgings, Barrington Street, Limerick, this morning, for the purpose of requesting his Lordship to use his influence with the Government to have Miss McCormack, a member of the Dublin Ladies' Land League, released from the County Prison, where she is detained on a warrant issued by Mr. Clifford Lloyd, special resident magistrate, in default of finding sureties of 'good behaviour.' Judge Barry, in reply, said that, as a judge, he could not interfere in any way whatever with the matter, and could not receive the deputation in his judicial capacity; but, as Charles Barry and a citizen of Limerick, he was always glad to see his fellow-townsmen, and in that capacity alone he would use any private influence he had in forwarding the object of the deputation, and would write a private note to-day to the Chief Secretary, requesting, if it were possible to do so, that Miss McCormack should be released. The deputation thanked his Lordship for the courteous manner in which they were received, and withdrew;whether he had yet received the private note from the learned judge; and, if so, what answer has been returned?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI have seen the statement in The Daily Express, and I have also received a letter marked private from Judge Barry, to which I have given a reply. As the documents are of a private nature, I do not think I should be asked to answer the Question.
§ MR. J. R. YORKEasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was prepared to draw a distinction between the learned Judge's action in his public and private capacity?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI do not think I am called upon to define that.