§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If local Justices of the Peace in Ireland are to be the sole judges as to the legality of the objects of meetings; and, whether they will be allowed, upon their own interpretation of matters of law and fact, to suppress public meetings indiscriminately?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)Local Justices in Ireland are not the sole judges as to the legality of their acts, and ought not to suppress public meetings indiscriminately.
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a Proclamation was issued on Saturday evening the 12th February and posted in and about the town of Youghal; whether the Proclamation was signed by Thos. O. Plunkett, S.R.M., and Starkie, R.M., forbidding any public meeting of the 885 people of Youghal, or of the surrounding district, on Sunday the 13th February; whether it is true that no less than four meetings were held in the locality on the date in question; whether the meeting was proclaimed by the said Resident Magistrates owing to, or in consequence of, informations having been received by them that, were any meeting permitted to be held in the locality, that it might lead to a breach or disturbance of the peace; whether the said informations were given by three men, named W. S. Hunt, Bailey, and Blackeney; and, whether these men are members and paid agents of the Defence Union?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHA notice prohibiting an intended meeting was signed and posted as stated. Informations had been sworn, but not by the persons mentioned in the Question. Captain Plunkett has the full approval of the Government for his action in the matter, which was justified by the circumstances of the district and the matters sworn in the informations. Very exaggerated reports have been published as to other meetings held in the locality on the occasion.
§ DR. TANNERasked if the right hon. Gentleman could say by whom the informations were sworn?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACHsaid he was not prepared to do so.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Does the right hon. Gentleman make any distinction between Resident Magistrates and ordinary Justices of the Peace; and would it, in his opinion, be in the power of ordinary Justices to proclaim a meeting?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHOrdinary Justices of the Peace in Ireland or in England have to act for the preservation of the peace, and are responsible for their actions in that capacity. Any person aggrieved has a right of legal action against them.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYMay I ask whether the Government will give a guarantee that if an action be brought against Justices of the Peace they will not help the Justices by defraying the expenses of the litigation?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI certainly will reply to no Question of that sort. The Government will deal with any matter as it arises,