§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Lord Lieutenant has removed Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde from the office of High Sheriff of the county of Water-ford, in consequence of any default or inefficiency in the discharge of the duties of the office, or of any circumstance unknown to the Lord Lieutenant at the time of the appointment; and, if not, for what cause has he been removed; and, whether Colonel Hillier, now appointed to succeed Sir Thomas Esmonde in the office of Sheriff of Waterford, is the same person who, when an officer of Constabulary, was mulcted in damages by a jury for an assault?
§ MR. P. J. POWER (Waterford, E.)In answering this Question, perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will state on what 482 grounds the appointment by Sir Thomas Esmonde of Mr. Strange, solicitor, as sub-Sheriff of the County Waterford was objectionable, as we gather it was from the remarks of the right hon. Gentleman last Tuesday night.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)That matter does not arise out of the present question. The reason for the removal of Sir Thomas Esmonde from the office of High Sheriff for the county of Waterford is shown in the letter of the Lords Justices which has been published. I do not know to what the last paragraph of the Question refers, unless it be to the fact that Colonel Hillier, when Deputy Inspector General of Constabulary, and in charge of police on the occasion of an anniversary, arrested the late Mr. John Rea, of Belfast, who took an action against him and obtained damages.
§ MR. SEXTONWhich he never paid.