§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the action of County Court Judge Hickson in the case of the "Guardians 1679 of the Mullingar Union v. Murray. "heard at the recent Quarter Sessions for Westmeath, and to the resolution adopted by the Guardians on the same subject, published in the Westmeath Examiner of the 17th instant; if it is a fact that Judge Hickson first dismissed the case on its merits, and in two days afterwards stated to Mr. Downes, the solicitor to the Guardians, that he was anxious to have the case re-opened; whether the Guardians, having agreed to the proposal, the Judge, without re-hearing the case, again changed his mind and directed the Clerk of the Peace to inform the solicitor that he would allow the dismissal to stand; and whether he will ask the Lord Chancellor to request Judge Hickson to furnish an explanation of his reasons in acting thus with regard to this case?
§ MR. MADDENThe matters referred to in the question are matters which occurred before the Judge in the discharge of his duty as a County Court Judge. It would be improper for me on behalf of the Government to communicate with him as to the discharge of his duty in the capacity he fills.