§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a case heard at Woodford Petty Sessions on the 24th inst., before Messrs. Hickson, R.N., and Burke, J.P., in which 1776 an emergency man named M'Keever was summoned by Constable Sheehan on a charge of being "drunk in the streets of Woodford on the 14th inst., and having a loaded revolver in his possession"; if it is true that a few hours after his arrest he was brought before Mr. Burke, J.P., by whom he was discharged, and who added that no further action should be taken; has his attention been called to the report of the trial, from which it appears that it was proved by Constable Sheehan that M'Keever, on being arrested, threatened to shoot him; that Mr. Burke, notwithstanding the protest of the presiding magistrate, persisted in cross-examining the policeman, and finally called him a "blackguard;" and that after M'Keever had been fined £2 and costs, and had paid that sum, Mr. Burke stood up in Court, advised M'Keever to appeal, and ordered the money to be handed back; and if the above facts are correctly stated, whether the Lord Chancellor will make inquiry into the action of this magistrate?
§ MR. MADDENThe facts are as stated in the first two paragraphs of the question. As regards the third paragraph it appears that M'Keever did not threaten to shoot the constable, nor did Mr. Burke direct the amount of the fine to be handed back. The report, however, of what actually occurred at the trial disclosed matters of a serious nature which shall be brought under the attention of the Lord Chancellor.
§ In reply to a further question by Mr. FLYNN,
§ MR. MADDENsaid: If the hon. Gentleman requires further information he had better put a question upon the Paper.