§ DR. FOX (King's Co., Tullamore)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that in the case of a man named Connolly, charged with assault before Mr. Tyrell, J.P., Edenderry, the magistrate offered to release the man on bail if a medical certificate stating that the life of the complainant was not in danger were produced; whether, on production of such a certificate within a few hours, he refused bail and committed Connolly; whether some days afterwards Connolly was allowed out on bail; and, whether Mr. Tyrell will take any part in the hearing of the case on next Wednesday?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, he was informed that no question of bail was raised when Connolly was committed. A medical certificate, to the effect that the life of the complainant was not in danger, was subsequently produced, and an application made to have the prisoner allowed out on bail. The police, however, opposed the application, owing to the serious condition of the man assaulted, and Mr. Tyrell, J.P., consequently refused to allow Connolly out on bail. Connolly was brought up on remand a week afterwards, and then admitted to bail by two magistrates, the man in gaol not being able to attend. There did not appear to have been anything in the action of Mr. Tyrell to preclude him from taking part in the further hearing of the case.
§ DR. FOXDid the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inquire whether Mr. Tyrell promised to admit the prisoner to bail if a certificate was produced; and whether he afterwards, after a consultation with, the Petty Sessions Clerk, though a certificate was produced, refused to admit the man to bail; and, whether the Petty Sessions Clerk was interested in having bail refused?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, the information he had was that no question of bail was raised when Connolly was committed.