§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. William Parker, J.P., Clones, recently ordered a constable to charge a man named Irwin with having a horse standing for sale in a public fair at Clones at a place alleged by the Magistrate named not to be the proper place for the sale of horses; that Mr. Parker sat in judgment in the case and fined Irwin 10s., or, in default, seven days' imprisonment, although Irwin protested against the fine on the ground that he was within his right, and the custom at Clones Fair, to exhibit his horse at the place, and offered, if time were given him, to produce horse dealers and other witnesses to prove his contention; and that Mr. 1139 Parker had Irwin arrested subsequently for refusing to pay the fine; and whether Magistrates are allowed to sit in judgment on persons charged by themselves; and, if not, whether he proposes to take any, and what, steps in this matter?
§ MR. MADDENI understand that the Magistrate mentioned complained to the constable that the man named had been obstructing the foot-path by keeping his horse upon it. The constable, upon satisfying himself that the man subsequently persisted in the obstruction, charged him with the offence. The penalty inflicted by the Magistrate was not as stated in the question, but a fine of 2s., including costs, which the man subsequently paid at the police barrack, and which was then handed over to the Town Commissioners' Clerk.