§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If Mr. Jeremiah Hegarty, late of the Macroom Workhouse, now of Milistreet, has been appointed to the Commission of the Peace in the County of Cork; whether Mr. Hegarty is owner of a public-house in the town of Millstreet, and is also bailiff to the Landlord Defence League in Cork; whether he has been for some time past, and still continues, under police protection; if it is true that his police guard have objected to the treatment they have received at his hands; what reasons have been given for granting police protection to Mr. Hegarty; on how many occasions this year has a supplementary police patrol been sent to survey the route by which Mr. Hegarty was travelling; whether such police were supplied on Mr. Hegarty's application; whether the only people who frequent his public-house are policemen and emergency men; whether, in view of these facts, it is his intention to bring the appointment under the notice of the Lord Chancellor; and, by whom was Mr. Hegarty recommended for the said magisterial position? The hon. Member desired to supplement the Question, and to ask whether it was a fact that quite recently Mr. Hegarty compounded with his creditors?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, he knew nothing about the supplementary matter. Mr. Hegarty was a Roman Catholic gentleman of independent position. He was appointed by the Lord Chancellor on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant of the County and other local gentlemen. It was not a fact that he held a publican's licence, the business formerly conducted by him having been transferred to his son. It was not true that he was the bailiff of the Landlord Defence League Neither was it a fact that he was under special police protection, or that the police had complained of the treatment they had received at his hands. The police gave him and his property such protection as they thought he required; but he could not say how often they had patrolled the roads in consequence.
§ DR. TANNERI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he thinks it right to appoint as a magistrate a late pauper of the Macroom Workhouse, and now a holder of a publican's licence; and, whether he thinks such an appointment will tend to the preservation of law and order in Cork?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant has nothing to do with the appointment of magistrates.
§ DR. TANNERCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us when the license was transferred from Hegarty to his son; whether it was not done immediately before Hegarty was appointed a magistrate; and whether, therefore, Hegarty was not practically a publican at the time of his appointment?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe year before last, Sir.