§ MR. T. M. HEALYI would ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether it was on the ground of apprehended flight that Colonel Long bourne, R.M., refused bail to Mr. Rice and Mr. Kent at Fermoy, pending the hearing at Petty Sessions of a charge of intimidating an emergency man; and whether Resident 1592 Magistrates will be instructed not to refuse bail, under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, except on this ground, especially when the Queen's Bench is not sitting?
MR, MADDENThe facts are, I am informed, as follows:—The Resident Magistrate offered to accept bail in regard to both the defendants named if they would give an undertaking, pending their trial, not to interfere with the men who were working on certain lands; on their refusing to give this undertaking bail was refused. The Executive Government cannot interfere with the discretion of Magistrates in the manner suggested in the concluding portion of the question.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWhy were summonses not issued against these gentlemen, one of whom was a brother of the Local Crown Prosecutor?
§ MR. MADDENThat does not arise out of my answer. If the hon. Member desires information on this matter I will obtain it.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI will call attention to this matter on the Vote on Account.