HC Deb 13 November 1884 vol 293 c1561
MR. O'KELLY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that in the Petty Sessions district of Maghera, county Derry, there is no Catholic magistrate; whether the Catholics form a large majority of the population of the district; and, whether he will ask the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the desirability of appointing a Catholic magistrate in this district?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The Lord Chancellor informs me that he has recently placed in the Commission of the Peace four Catholic gentlemen residing not very far from Maghera; and he will ascertain whether some of them may not be able to attend the Maghera Petty Sessions, where the Resident Magistrate, who is a Roman Catholic, now attends. I may add that within the year the Lord Chancellor has placed nine Catholic gentlemen in the Commission of the Peace for the county of Londonderry.