HC Deb 17 March 1887 vol 312 c509
MR. P. M'DONALD (Sligo, N.)

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Under what Statute, or by what authority, £35,000 of the Unclaimed Dividends of the Irish Court of Bankruptcy were transferred to the Commissioners of the National Debt; whether the transfer of the money of the unpaid creditors is contrary to, and in violation of, the sections 294, 295, 296, and 297 of "The Bankruptcy (Ireland) Act, 1857;" and whether it is a fact that, owing to the conduct of the Bankruptcy Court officials, dividend warrants are frequently returned by the Post Office, in consequence of wrong direction or address, and large sums are thereby allowed to accumulate, creditors not being permitted to examine the list for themselves?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)

The transfer referred to was made pursuant to the provisions of the 85th section of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Act, 1877. Dividend warrants are often returned by the Post Office, in consequence of persons to whom they are addressed not being found; but I am not aware that this arises from the misconduct of the Bankruptcy Court officials, who are themselves often unable to discover the proper addresses. Creditors can see for themselves what are the unclaimed dividends in any particular estate; but a general examination of all the lists is not allowed.