§ MR. O'HANLONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that one of the local Justices of Crossmaglen, Mr. Hanratty, has lately evicted some of his tenants and taken off all the crops; and whether he is aware that Mr. Hanratty's bailiff is also summons server for the district; and, if so, whether it is in accordance with the regulations that a summons server should act as bailiff to a landlord in the district?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt appears, as far as I can learn, that Mr. Han- 121 ratty has not evicted any of his tenants lately, and that he has no bailiff.
§ MR. O'HANLONHas he evicted any tenant within the last 12 months? The answer of the right hon. Gentleman is not at all satisfactory. I think I have a right to a direct answer.
§ [No answer was given.]
§ MR. O'HANLONMr. Speaker, will you be good enough to get a reply for me?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman asked me two questions—whether this gentleman has lately evicted any of his tenants, and whether his bailiff is summons server for the district? My answer is that Mr. Hanratty has not evicted any of his tenants lately, and that he has no bailiff.
§ MR. O'HANLONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Thomas Morris, a merchant of Crossmaglen, was summoned for fishing in a lake last July; that the case was dismissed by the Magistrate acting at the time; and that Mr. Morris is again summoned for the same offence, to be tried next September; will Mr. Hanratty act as a Justice on the occasion, in view of the fact that he had a dispute with Morris lately; and can Mr. Morris be twice tried for the alleged offence?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt appears that Thomas Morris was summoned last month by the Local Fishery Authorities for illegally fishing with an "otter." The case was dismissed not in the sense indicated in the Question, but without prejudice on the technical point as to the description of the "otter." An amended summons has been issued, and the case will be heard in September. Mr. Hanratty is a local Justice. There is no information as to whether he will take part in the case or not. He does not appear to have had any dispute with Mr. Morris lately. As regards the last paragraph, the effect of dismissing a case without prejudice is to enable the prosecution to re-open the proceedings if so advised.
§ MR. O'HANLONWill the right hon. Gentleman instruct Mr. Hanratty that he has no right to sit on the Bench in such a case?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir; that is no part of my functions, nor do I gather that there is any reason why this gentleman should not sit.