HC Deb 01 August 1887 vol 318 cc694-6
MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a case, heard at the Quarter Sessions held recently at Bantry, in which it was proved that Mr. J. G. Barrett, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Cork, had altered a rent receipt dated 1st November, 1880, to 1st November, 1881, in order to procure for a tenant, named James Mahoney, the benefit of the Arrears Act, by which Mr. Grumbleton, for whom Mr. Barrett is agent, obtained a half-year's rent from the Treasury; that Mr. Barrett subsequently made an affidavit that Mr. Mahoney owed the rent for the year ending the 1st November, 1880, though he had paid the same and received a receipt for it from. Mr. Barrett; has his attention further been called to the statement of Judge Ferguson, that this receipt had been altered, and that, though the investigators under the Arrears Act had cancelled one year's rent, the Treasury having advanced a half-year's rent under the Act, Mahoney was compelled by Barrett to pay him the remaining half cancelled by the Arrears Court; and, will he ask the Lord Chancellor to make an inquiry into the truth of these allegations?

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said: I find the case referred to is not concluded, and that it stands adjourned, by the consent of both parties, till nest Sessions for the personal examination of Mr. Barrett. The matter being still sub judice, I am not in a position to make any statement regarding it.

MR. GILHOOLY

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman state whether the third paragraph of the Question is correct; and, if so, will he take steps in the matter?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

I must decline to make any statement, as the case is still sub judice.

MR. M. J. KENNY (Tyrone, Mid)

May I ask, cannot a special inquiry be instituted into this case by the Lord Chancellor? I would also ask, whether, on a charge of this kind, Mr. Byrne was not removed from his position as Collector of Rates for one of the Divisions of Dublin?

[No reply.]

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Mr. Speaker, we want a reply to this Question. The allegation is that a person holding the Commission of Justice of the Peace has been guilty of perjury and fraud—both on the Treasury and the tenants—and we desire to know, apart from any legal proceedings, whether the Lord Chancellor will fulfil his public functions and inquire into the allegations?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

I have answered the Question on the Paper, and it is not in my power to answer any further inquiries.

MR. SEXTON

Then I beg to ask the Chief Secretary, if he will cause the Lord Chancellor to inquire into the allegations made against a Justice of the Peace of the County Cork?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR.) (Manchester, E.)

, in reply, said, the Government would give the matter their consideration.