§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true, as stated in The Times of May 17th, that 845 Charles O'Neill, public-house keeper, has been, admitted to the Commission of the Peace for Deny; and, if so, whether there is any precedent for a publican being made a magistrate?
§ MR. TREVELYANMr. Charles O'Neill has been appointed to the Commission of the Peace on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant of the county. He is a gentleman of considerable position in the City of Londonderry. The description of him as a public-house keeper is misleading. He is an extensive wholesale wine and spirit merchant; he has a retail licence also; but this licence he is to make a bonâ fide transfer of, ceasing to have any connection therewith, according to an understanding come to with him before his recommendation by the Lord Lieutenant of the county.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask, whether the fact of a man being a publican is a conclusive bar to his holding the Commission of the Peace?
§ MR. TREVELYANIt is practically a bar.