HC Deb 24 April 1888 vol 325 cc326-7
MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the serious criminal charges brought against several citizens of Belfast in connection with wholesale frauds alleged to have been committed against a certain Insurance Company there; whether serious charges have also been made in the Belfast Police Court against the Company; whether this Company is at present conducting the prosecution against two of its own officials, and also against one of its largest policy holders, who is a member of the Belfast Town Council; whether charges have been made that the Company sought to condone the alleged offence of this policy holder, by accepting surrender of the policies said to have been fraudulently obtained by him and by returning him the premiums which he had paid; and, whether, under the circumstances, it is the intention of the Government to take the conduct of the prosecution into its own hands, instead of leaving the conduct of the prosecution in the hands of a Company against which such charges have been made?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)

I communicated with the Attorney General with reference to this Question. It is obviously a matter requiring ample consideration; and as the Question only appeared on the Paper this morning I must ask the hon. and learned Member to be good enough to postpone it.

MR. CLANCY

Until what day?

MR. MADDEN

Monday. Subsequently,

MR. CLANCY

Since the hon. and learned Gentleman the Solicitor General for Ireland asked me to postpone my Question until Monday, I have ascertained that it is possible that the trial may have concluded before that day—possibly by Thursday next. Under these circumstances, might I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether he can give an immediate answer to the Question?

MR. MADDEN

The only reason why I asked the hon. and learned Member to postpone the Question was, that it only appeared on the Paper this morning, and it was perfectly impossible to communicate in time and to receive an answer from the Attorney General, with whom the decision rests.

MR. CLANCY

What day then will the hon. and learned Gentleman be prepared to give an answer?

MR. MADDEN

On Thursday. The hon. and learned Member is, no doubt, aware that Questions are not usually put upon the Paper on Wednesday.

MR. CLANCY

Nevertheless, I will put the Question down for to-morrow.