HC Deb 03 March 1887 vol 311 cc1060-1
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following incident at the Con-naught Winter Assizes, held at Sligo, as reported in The Freeman's Journal 23rd December 1886:— Mr. John Redington, Sub-Sheriff of the County of Galway, deposed, in reply to Mr. Le Poer Trench, Q.C., 'I have been Sub-Sheriff for the past thirteen years.' Will you swear that you were at Saunders' two hours before sunset?—I did not know when the sun set. I did not know there was a section in the Act of Parliament regulating evictions that an eviction could not be carried out two hours before sunset. Have you frequently directed men after the legal hour?—I don't know; and, what steps he proposes to take in view of the ignorance of the law confessed by this officer?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)

Any person feeling aggrieved by the action of the Sub-Sheriff has a legal remedy. The Government are not responsible for any neglect of duty on his part. If the ignorance of this Sub-Sheriff has been to the injury of any other person, proceedings can be taken against him.