§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether District Inspector Tilly of the Royal Irish Constabulary, at present stationed in Cavan, has served for 25 years in the rank of District Inspector; whether he has for three years in King's County, and nearly three years in county Cavan, discharged the duties of County Inspector in the absence of the County Inspectors of those counties; whether, in November last, it having come to Mr. Tilly's turn to be promoted to the rank of County Inspector, he received the following certificate, signed by the Inspector General of Constabulary, Deputy Inspector General, and the Commandant of the Royal Irish Constabulary Depôt:—"An officer whose character, private and official, is above reproach;" whether, instead of receiving his promotion, he was in- 171 formed by the Inspector General that he was to be passed over; and, whether the Government will allow him the promotion to which his long and meritorious services and high character entitle him?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.), in reply, said, District Inspector Tilly was an officer of long service and good character, and as temporary County Inspector performed the routine duties of that office. But it was found that at the end of last year after inquiry he laboured under some serious defect of speech which rendered him unable to discharge the duties of a higher and more responsible position. Nothing had been brought to his notice which would show that the decision that had been arrived at could be altered.