§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can now state what course the Lord Chancellor has taken in the case of Mr. Haslett, J. P., of Belfast?
§ MR. TREVELYAN,in reply, said, that it was the Lord Chancellor who was concerned in this matter. It was true that on a former occasion Mr. Haslett took part in adjudicating on a licensing case in which he should not have done; but there was no reason to believe that he showed any partiality, or that justice was not done in the case. In his capacity as magistrate he punished the woman very severely, and in his capacity as landlord he had her put out of the house on account of her misconduct. Under these circumstances, the conclusion of the Government was that the matter did not call for further proceedings.
§ MR. KENNYDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that Mr. Haslett, having subjected himself to a fine of £100 and to a liability to be dismissed from the Commission of the Peace, is now to go scot free?
§ MR. TREVELYANThis is what I would mean. The man acted inadvertently; but as Judge he showed severity, and as landlord of the public-house punished also.
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Government are quite satisfied that he acted without a knowledge of what he was doing.
§ MR. KENNYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the evidence before the magistrates showed that he was perfectly cognizant of the fact that he was adjudicating in his own case?
§ [No reply.]