§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu tenant of Ireland, Whether his atten- 1388 tion has been drawn to a letter written by Dr. Charles Ronayne, one of the presiding magistrates who convicted County Inspector Brownrigg of assault, to The Cork Examiner of the 19th instant, denying the statement of the Chief Secretary for Ireland that the Bench were of opinion the case of County In-Inspector Brownrigg should never have been brought into Court, and stating that Mr. Kennedy, the complainant, "adopted the right course of seeking redress in the Constitutional way;" whether County Inspector Brownrigg admitted drinking whiskey previous to the assault; and, whether he will, under these circumstances, cause an inquiry to be made into the case?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES)(who replied) said (Dublin University)What the Chief Secretary said was, that the magistrates, in imposing a fine of a farthing without costs, stated that the case ought never to have been brought into Court. This is so. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Bench, and Dr. Ronayne, who was one of the Justices present, expressed no dissent. As to Dr. Ronayne's letter referred to, it does not refer to the Chief Secretary's statement at all. It was written a fort night before that statement was made. Mr. Brownrigg, being the defendant, was not examined, and could not, there fore, have made the admission alleged in the Question. Mr. Brownrigg is an excellent officer; and the Government consider that he behaved most properly on the occasion which gave rise to this charge.
§ DR. TANNERsaid, the statement of the Chief Secretary was made on the 17th, and the letter of Dr. Ronayne appeared on the 19th.