HC Deb 14 February 1884 vol 284 cc882-3
MR. MOLLOY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been drawn to the protest of the magistrates in the King's County, in which, referring to the action of the Government in depriving Lord Rossmore of the Commission of the Peace, the following words occur, "the Government have given a distinct incentive to disloyalty in this country;" if one of the signatories to this protest is the high sheriff; if another holds the office of Lord Lieutenant of the county; and, if others are Resident Magistrates, and in receipt of salaries from the State; and, whether the Irish Executive is content to permit the Law to be administered in the King's County by those who publicly proclaim in their official capacity that the Government which they represent has "given a distinct incentive to disloyalty" to the people amongst whom the signatories to this protest are called upon to administer the Law?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the resolution referred to as published in The Daily Express of the 10th of January has appended to it the name of the High Sheriff, but not the Lieutenant of the County, or of any Resident Magistrate, or, so far as I am aware, of any person receiving a salary from the State. I cannot say that the Government is content that such a protest should have been signed by a body of magistrates; but I may remind the hon. Member that the 8th section of the Crimes Act is in force in the county; and that, therefore, these magistrates will not be concerned in the hearing of cases of a Party nature brought under the Act.

MR. MOLLOY

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had assured himself that the protest was not signed by one Resident Magistrate at least?

MR. TREVELYAN

said, he certainly was not aware of such a thing; and as the matter was a very serious one, perhaps the hon. Member would communicate with him privately on the subject.

MR. MOLLOY

Was not Captain Lestrange's name appended to the document?

MR. TREVELYAN

I am informed that there are several Lestranges in the King's County, and I know Captain Le-strange well enough to believe that he would not sign such a document.