§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that at the late Assizes, in Wicklow, out of 43 Roman Catholic jurors called on the panel not one was allowed to serve on the juries sworn to try the Gort and Loughrea cases; whether he will state why all the Catholics were told to stand aside; and, if he can inform the House how many cases during the past five years were tried at Wicklow by exclusively Protestant juries?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)(who replied) said: There is no record kept, nor inquiry made, as to the religion of jurors. I am, therefore, unable to give the information sought in this Question.
§ MR. W. J. CORBETasked, how was it that, if no inquiry were made, yet all the Catholic jurors were ordered to stand aside?
§ MR. MADDENreplied, that he had no materials by which he could answer the Question.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked if the hon. and learned Gentleman would have any objection to discovering, for the satisfaction of the House, the religion of the jurors ordered to stand aside?
§ MR. MADDENsaid, it would be exceedingly improper to do anything of the kind.
§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork Co., N.E.)asked, if the hon. and learned Gentleman could offer any explanation of the process by which this fortuitous occurrence took place on every occasion.
§ MR. MADDENrepeated that it would be most improper for him to make inquiries as to the religion of the jurors. He might say that when this matter had been in debate before he had read to the House the Rules under which challenges, or orders to stand aside, were made during the last 20 years.
§ MR. SEXTONasked, if the hon. and learned Gentleman would take steps to put an end to his own inability to reply to Questions on this subject?
§ THE SPEAKEROrder, order!