§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that, in a very important criminal trial just commenced at Dublin, no less than thirty-eight special jurors drawn from the panel were ordered by the representatives of the Crown to stand aside before a jury was made up; whether Her Majesty's Government have no present intention of availing themselves of the Law passed by Parliament, after much labour, enabling them to transfer to three judges the duty of trying prisoners in cases where there are objections to trial by jurors; and, if not, whether the Government propose to reduce the number and salaries of Irish Judges?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I find that at a recent trial in Dublin—that of Patrick Joyce—36 jurors were ordered by the Crown to stand by. So long as juries can be obtained who do their duty honestly and fearlessly the Government will not avail themselves of the 1708 Special Commission Court of three Judges, authorized by the Prevention of Crime Act. The Government do not contemplate making any proposal with regard to the number and salaries of the Irish Judges.