HC Deb 11 February 1887 vol 310 cc1220-1
MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether Irish Crown Solicitors in directing jurors on Irish Criminal trials to "stand by" exercise their own discretion, or act under the instructions of the Attorney General, or the prosecuting counsel who represents him; whether the instructions contained in the printed Circular addressed to Crown Solicitors on this point, and recently communicated to the House, are supplemented by oral instructions given on the spot; and, whether it is the duty or the practice of the Crown Counsel to interfere in the selection of jurors; and, if so, in what manner and to what extent?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON) (Liverpool, Walton)

(who replied) said: The only instructions of any kind, oral or written, that have been given to Crown Solicitors as to directing jurors to stand by are those which have been communicated to the House by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General for Ireland. It will be seen from those instructions that the Crown Solicitor is to consult the leading Crown counsel when there is time for him to do so.