HC Deb 25 February 1884 vol 284 cc1840-1
MR. BIGGAR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If there be thirty-two governors belonging to the County Down Lunatic Asylum, and, out of that number, there are only four Roman Catholics, or one-eighth of the entire number; if there be fifty-five attendants and tradesmen attached to the asylum, and, out of that number, there are only about eight Roman Catholics, or about one-seventh of the entire number; if the superior officers are all Protestants, except the Roman Catholic chaplain; if all the middle-class officers, such as head attendant, the two shoemakers, the two tailors, baker, engine man, painter, land steward, carpenter, gate man, hall porter, gas man, shepherd, &c. are all Protestants and Orangemen; if he would inquire of the governors how it is that the Roman Catholic attendants and tradesmen are in such a great "minority;" and, are the attendants in the asylum appointed by the governors, or the medical resident superintendent, or by whom?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the facts were, in the main, as stated, excepting; with regard to the middle class of officers being all Orangemen. Five of them were Orangemen. He was informed by the Resident Medical Superintendent that the applications for those appointments from Roman Catholics were, as a rule, very few. The attendants were appointed by the Resident Medical Superintendent.