§ LORD ARTHUR HILLasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is the case that, at the late Quarter Sessions in Monaghan, a man named Murray applied for a transfer of alicence, which was refused by the County Court Judge, and the house shut up; whether, notwithstanding such refusal, the magistrates at the following Petty Sessions granted a protection order for the same house to a man named Rafferty, although it was proved at the Quarter Sessions that Rafferty had sold to Murray; and, whether the Petty Sessions Court has the legal right to reopen a public-house, closed by order of the Quarter Sessions Court; and what steps the Government propose to take in the matter?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)I am informed that the reason for the refusal mentioned in the first paragraph was, that Rafferty had not himself got a licence, and, therefore, had no right to sell drink. Rafferty, however, had bought the licensed house for a man named M'Nally, and Rafferty should have been the person to have applied at the Quarter Sessions. Rafferty has since obtained under Section 12 of the Licensing Act of 1874 a protection order, and an application for a transfer can be made in proper form and the mistake rectified. There are no special circumstances, and I do not think any illegality has been committed.