§ MR. MORROGH (Cork, S.E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Philipps, clerk of Petty Sessions at Timoleague, in the county of Cork, was recently prosecuted by the Inland Revenue Authorities for having carried a gun without a licence; whether the case was first dismissed by the presiding Magistrates; whether, when notice of appeal was given by the official who prosecuted, a fine of £2 10s. was imposed on the defendant; and whether the conduct of the Magistrates will be brought under the notice of the Lord Chancellor?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that Mr. Philipps was prosecuted by the Inland Revenue Authorities, as stated in the first paragraph, and that the Magistrates intimated their intention of dismissing the case in view of Mr. Philipps' explanation that he was merely conveying the gun to his new residence. The Inland Revenue representative, however, pressed the case, and stated that he would appeal 1732 against a dismissal, whereupon the Magistrates, after consultation, decided to impose a fine of £2 10s. with a recommendation to the Revenue Commissionera that the penalty should be reduced to a minimum, as there appeared, in the Magistrates' opinion, that no fraud had been attempted in the case, or any intention to break the law. I am not aware of anything in the case requiring, the attention of the Lord Chancellor.