HC Deb 16 May 1882 vol 269 cc826-7
MR. W. J. CORBET

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If it is true that Mr. Newton, J.P. Zinahely, county Wicklow, on being applied to by Mr. Moses Doyle, of Aughrim, to sign the form of application for a gun licence, took the form and refused to give it back, so that Mr. Doyle could not apply to other local magistrates to sign it; whether Mr. Doyle, on applying to the petty sessions clerk for a fresh form, was refused, by direction of Mr. Newton; whether any outrage with firearms has been committed in the county of Wicklow during the whole land agitation; whether there is any ground for refusing Mr. Doyle a gun to protect his crops from rooks, there being a rookery adjoining his farm; and, whether he will take any steps in the matter?

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

Sir, in reply to the first, second, and fifth part of the Questions of the hon. Member, there seems to have been some misconception about Mr. Doyle's application, and I will take on myself to direct that a fresh form of application for a certificate shall be issued to him. In reply to the third part, no outrage with firearms has been committed hitherto in the County Wicklow. In reference to the fourth part, this is entirely a matter for the magistrates and licensing officer, with whose jurisdiction and discretion I cannot interfere.