§ MR. HARRINGTONasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is a fact that the Lord Chancellor recently appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the county of Wicklow a Bray gentleman recommended by the Earl of 422 Meath, Lord Lieutenant of the county, and refused to appoint any of those recommended by the ratepayers in a memorial to the Lord Chancellor; and, whether it is true that the police have been supplied with information that the first occasion upon which this magistrate was applied to for a summons he is accused of having indecently assaulted the young woman who applied for the summons?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)The Lord Chancellor did refuse to appoint two gentlemen whose names were presented to him in memorials signed by ratepayers of Bray. He did appoint a gentleman recommended by the Earl of Meath. Certain statements were recently forwarded to the Inspector General of Constabulary, which, if true, would give colour to the allegations contained in this Question. They have been inquired into by the police, with the result that they were disbelieved. They were also laid before the Attorney General, and the Attorney General has given his opinion that, having regard to the fact that the alleged offence took place on the 8th July last, and that no information was ever sworn and no complaint made to the police at the time, the Crown should not undertake any prosecution. But it is quite open to this woman to make a charge before a magistrate, when the gentleman referred to will have the opportunity of defending himself, which he has not when indirectly assailed in this House.
§ MR. HARRINGTONasked whether the Crown usually asked for an explanation from a person charged with indecent assault as in this case?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)said, that no information was given on the subject for weeks afterwards.
§ MR. HARRINGTONasked if it had not been given three weeks ago?
§ [No reply.]