§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Sub-Constables O'Neill and M'Kay have been transferred from Newry to inferior stations in consequence of a complaint made, the truth of which they denied, and without any inquiries or investigation; and, whether, when one of the said sub-constables requested the county inspector to make inquiries, the county inspector ordered him to proceed to his new station at once, and at the same time directed the head constable to make inquiries, thereby securing that the man should be absent from Newry whilst inquiries were made in reference to the complaint, for the assumed truth of which he had been already punished?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the constables named were removed from Newry, but not to inferior stations, and not until after the circumstances which led to their removal had been fully considered. A charge of neglect of duty was preferred against them by a Mr. M'Blain, a merchant, of Newry. He, however, subsequently refused to prosecute, and the County Inspector disposed of the case on the written statements of the men themselves. He considered that he dealt very leniently with them, in simply removing them to another station, and not at their own expense, as, even on their own showing, their conduct was greatly wanting in courtesy and discretion. The County Inspector's action in 1506 the matter is fully approved of by the Inspector General. There is no ground for the allegations contained in the second paragraph of the Question.