§ MR. J. O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that on 24th June, at the Clonmel Quarter Sessions, two young men, named William Ryan and Joseph Ryan, were ordered to be released on bail; whether four Magistrates of the county, named respectively Messrs. Richard Bagwell, Gerald Fitzgerald, Albert Quinn, and Mr. Hemphill, on being applied to successively, refused to go to the prison, which was quite near, for the purpose of having the prisoners released, although the sureties produced the perfected bail bond, and although it is necessary a Magistrate should attend under the circumstances; and whether he will inquire from the above mentioned gentlemen if they declined to perform their Magisterial duties; and, if so, why?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that the first Magistrate applied to declined taking bail, as he was not satisfied of the sufficiency of one of the sureties. The other three Magistrates were applied to and they declined, not knowing anything of the securities. The bail was then completed before Mr. J. V. Guery, J.P. As a matter of fact, no practical inconvenience was sustained by the prisoners, as their bail was completed about two and a half hours after the application was first made.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORMay I ask whether the Resident Magistrate or the Magistrate in the case has the power of decision as to whether the securities are sufficient or not?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURBefore I answer that question, I should have notice of it. My belief is that the Magistrate has power to decide.