§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been directed to a conviction for assault obtained at the Ennis Petty Sessions of June 20th last, against a Constable Fitzgerald, stationed on duty at Clare Castle, county Clare; if it was proved that Fitzgerald wan- 201 tonly assaulted Mr. Denis Moylan by striking him on the head with a stick, and was accordingly fined by the magistrates; if it was stated on oath that, upon the day the assault was committed (it being on Sunday), Fitzgerald had journeyed through several neighbouring villages, entering public houses regularly for the purpose of partaking of intoxicants; and if, upon his return to Clare Castle, in contravention to the Closing of Public Houses on Sunday (Ireland) Act, he went with others to a public house to drink; if there are any regulations in force in the Royal Irish Constabulary by means of which a policeman proved to have violated the Licensing Law, may be punished; and, if, in view of Fitzgerald's double offence, it is proposed to retain him in the force?
§ MR. TREVELYANConstable Fitzgerald was fined 10s. 6d. for an assault, which the Chairman of the Bench, in passing sentence, described as "a very slight one." He was twice summoned, for the same alleged offence; and on the first occasion the magistrates disagreed as to whether any assault at all had been committed. On the day of the occurrence the constable drove with his sister and one of his comrades to the villages of Newmarket and Quinn, and, on their return to Clare Castle, entered a public-house where his sister was lodging. It was not sworn that the constable drank at the public-house at Clare Castle; and as the other villages were five miles distant, there was no violation of the Licensing Laws. The constable is retained in the Force. Having regard to the trivial nature of the assault, the Inspector General considered him sufficiently punished by the fine; but cautioned him severely as to his future conduct.