§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Londonderry, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the practice at Monaghan Quarter Sessions for the sessional Crown prosecutor to challenge all Catholic jurors in party cases; and, if it is intended to follow this course at the trial of the prisoners on the 9th April for assaults arising out of the late election, will Catholic jurors be spared the necessity of answering the summonses?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)The Sessional Crown Solicitor assures us that it has never been his practice to challenge 911 juries on account of their religion. He further assures us that he has no sort of intention of doing so at the coming trials.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the Crown Solicitor how it is that in Monaghan, where three-fourths of the people are Catholic, out of 48 names on the panel now prepared only nine are those of Catholics, and how he can explain that?
§ [No reply.]
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI will give Notice of the Question.