§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, at the Vandeleur evictions last week, when Patrick, Thomas, Ellen, and Mary Cleary issued from a cabin to which entrance had been effected by the Emergency men, Mr. Cecil Roche, R.M., ordered the police to bring the above persons before him, seated himself on a stone wall, and committed them to prison; and, what are the Rules in force with respect to the times at, and places in, which Resident Magistrates have to perform their judicial functions?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. N. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I am informed that the facts are as stated in the Question, with the somewhat important exception that the women were not, as alleged, committed to prison. The duty of a magistrate requires him to deal on the spot with breaches of the peace committed in his presence.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked, in what capacity Mr. Cecil Roche was acting in these evictions; and, also, whether it was not the fact, as reported, that on seeing a man looking out of a window in one of the houses that gentleman said—"I see you, you rascal; you will surely have to go to gaol;" and, whether Mr. Cecil Roche made that observation in his capacity of a magistrate?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he had no grounds for believing the allegations that had been made against the magistrate.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)asked, what order Mr. Cecil Roche had made on the occasion in question?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he did not know.
§ Mr. J. E. ELLISasked, whether Mr. Cecil Roche was not in charge of the police on the occasion referred to?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, that he must ask the hon. Member to give Notice of his Question.