MR. PATRICK JOSEPH O'BRIENI beg to ask the Attorney General for 1677 Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, at the recent Spring Assizes at Nenagh, the Grand Jury for the North Riding of Tipperary passed unanimously a resolution approving of having the public advertisements published in the Tipperary Sentinel, the newspaper representing popular opinion circulating in the district; and that when the resolution subsequently came before the Grand Jury for the South Riding of the county in the ordinary way, they refused to ratify it, the foreman, as reported, making use of these words—
I may state I have a resolution here from the Grand Jury of the North Riding, recommending us to give advertisements to the Tipperary Sentinel. Is there any such paper in existence? 'We will have nothing to do with any such paper.'Can he state on what grounds this course was adopted, and the recommendation of the Grand Jury where the paper in question was published set aside, they having full knowledge of the merits of the case of which the Grand Jury at Clonmel admitted their entire ignorance; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this matter, which concerns so largely the ratepayers of the county?
§ MR. MADDENThere is no official information on the subject of this question, as Grand Juries are not under the control of the Irish Government. The Secretary of the Grand Jury of the South Riding of Tipperary has, however, favoured me with a statement to the effect that the resolution referred to was received by the Grand Jury, but as no member knew anything about the newspaper mentioned, and as no one appeared on its behalf, they decided to postpone the consideration of the matter.