MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether "The Metropolitan Police Office," in Dublin Castle, in which the secret investigations under the 16th section of the Crimes Act have been held, has been within the last fifteen years used as a "police office" in the sense of a court in which police charges are ordinarily entertained; and, if not, whether it satisfies the requirement of the 16th section, that persons summoned to give evidence in this way should be examined "at a police office, or the place where the petty sessions for the district in which the offence has been committed are usually held?"
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, in reply to this Question, I have to say that police charges have not been ordinarily entertained at the Metropolitan Police Office as mentioned in the first paragraph. As to the concluding paragraph, I have to state that I am advised that the Metropolitan Police Office does satisfy the requirements of the Statute, as a place where inquiries authorized by it may be held.
MR. O'BRIENsaid, that perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would be able to tell the House whether Mr. Curran had examined, in Dublin Castle, a number of witnesses from places outside Dublin, as, for instance, Curraghmore and Mullingar. Did not the Statute require the examination to be conducted before the Resident Magistrate of the district in which the offence was alleged to have been committed?
§ MR. TREVELYANI must have Notice in answering in the House of Commons for any officer of the Executive Government.
§ MR. HARRINGTONasked whether the right hon. Gentleman had seen the report in that day's papers of the imprisonment of two gentlemen in Cork, for refusing to answer questions having no reference to the offence specified in the summons?
§ MR. TREVELYANI thoroughly understand that case, Sir, which the hon. Gentleman gave Notice of, at length, yesterday, and I think it would be more convenient if I deferred answering the Question until then.