§ MR. H. CAMPBELL (Fermanagh, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord 761 Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Constable Hayes was stationed at Arney, county Fermanagh, on the 16th of August 1885; whether, on the evening of that day, he went to a friend's house, being then off duty; whether he remained at this house until half-past nine, and left at that time, reaching his barrack at a quarter to ten; if, on arriving at his barrack, he found the door closed against him, although his leave of absence extended to ten o'clock; whether he was reported by Sergeant Clinton; fined in the sum of 7s. 6d. by the county inspector; and, at his own expense, transferred to Lisnaskea; whether Constable Hayes demanded an inquiry, which was refused; was he within his right in asking for this inquiry; and, whether it will be granted? Also, Whether a constable named Tuohy was transferred from Arney, county Fermanagh, at his own expense, to another station, because he refused to sign a false statement at the request of Sergeant Clinton as to the number of hours he was out on patrol duty?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne), in reply, said, that on the evening in question the constable was absent without leave from half-past 7 o'clock to a quarter past 10 o'clock. He was charged with this, but denied it. The County Inspector, however, having investigated the circumstances, considered him guilty, and fined him 7s. 6d. He did not appeal for an inquiry, and he was transferred, not at his own, but at the public charge. In answer to the second Question of the hon. Member, Constable Tuohy was transferred to another station at his own request for having preferred a charge against a sergeant, which on investigation proved to be frivolous and vindictive. He had endeavoured to represent that an obvious clerical error was a wilful and deliberate false entry, and the course taken, under the circumstances, was considered perfectly justifiable; and in neither case was an inquiry called for.