HC Deb 27 July 1888 vol 329 cc664-5
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Cecil Roche was in charge of the police on the occasion last week when he ordered Patrick Cleary and others to be brought before him whilst sitting on a stone wall, and performed judicial functions in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by them?

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

I am informed that the Resident Magistrate named was not in charge of the police on the occasion in question.

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, is he aware that it is reported in the Press that Mr. Cecil Roche, when acting judicially at these evictions, has been in the habit of sitting on a wall wearing a billycock hat on one side of his head and down over his nose; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will instruct this functionary to have some regard for those decent forms which should accompany the administration of the law?

MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

May I ask, if Mr. Cecil Roche was not in charge of the police, what brought him there, or by whose authority he was sent there?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he was sent there by the Divisional Magistrate.