§ MR. CALLANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Fleury, District Inspector of Lisburn, is in the habit of appearing on duty at Belfast Quarter Sessions dressed in plain clothes, instead of in his uniform, as directed by the Constabulary Code of Regulations (section 1316); whether he has done so at the last Annual Licensing Sessions held on 1st of November last, when he attended and opposed the application of a widow named Margaret Robinson for a transfer of a licence from her deceased husband; whether he also, on the 20th January last (to which date the application had been adjourned), appeared dressed in a similar manner; whether, in consequence of his being so dressed, when, on stating his opposition, the Chairman asked him who he was, to which he replied that he was the District Inspector; and, whether, on both occasions, he sat beside the Temperance League solicitor, giving him instructions in the opposition to the granting of the transfer; and, if so, whether he was authorised to retain, or instruct, or give information to said 1454 solicitor; and, if so, by whom so authorised?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANDistrict Inspector Fleury is not in the habit of attending Quarter Sessions in plain clothes; but he was so dressed on the two occasions referred to, when the application in question, which had been previously repeatedly refused, came on. The Inspector General thinks that as the District Inspector knew he was liable to be called upon, al though not then actually conducting the opposition, he should have been in uniform, and has so informed him. The District Inspector gave some information to the solicitor for the opposition, but he did not retain him professionally.