HC Deb 23 April 1888 vol 325 cc169-70
DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that Mr. Jeremiah Hegarty, J.P., of Millstreet, is, and has of late been, retailing porter and spirits in the town of Millstreet, County Cork; whether such dealing is sanctioned in the case of persons holding the Commission of the Peace; whether the licence was obtained in or transferred to the name of his elder son on his appointment to the Commission of the Peace; whether the said son has left the country for Australia; and, whether the Government propose to take any action in the matter? The hon. Gentleman also wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman if the son who has left the country is not one of three who left in consequence of the general detestation in which Jeremiah Hegarty is held?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

The Inspector General of Constabulary reported that it was not the case that Mr. Jeremiah Hegarty, senior, retailed porter and spirits. The licence was transferred two years ago to the son, who has now gone on a temporary visit to Australia.

DR. TANNER

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is not a fact well known in the County Cork that the son has given it out publicly that he had left his father's home for ever, and that he never will return; and that there is so serious a difference of opinion between them that the son has broken every article of furniture he could possibly get at?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, the domestic differences of the Hegarty family might be well known in the County Cork, but they were not well known to him.

DR. TANNER

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman, as the Head of the Executive in Ireland, whether these facts were not known to the police, and also in whose name does the licence now stand? Is a magistrate for the County Cork to be permitted to sell and retail spirits and porter in the town of Millstreet when his son has left it for ever?

[No reply.]

DR. TANNER

said, he would put the Question in another form on the Paper for Friday.