ACTIONS AGAINST RESIDENT MAGISTRATES. (Hansard, 12 February 1891)

MR. MAC NEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the following paragraph from the Traders' Gazette copied into United Ireland of 6th September;— King's County. MacSheehy John Thomas Resident Magistrate, defendant; W. C. J. Crawley, Esquire, Ely Place, Dublin, plaintiff. Queen's Bench amount £33 13s. 1d., costs £5 16s.; what action do the Government intend to take with regard to this Magistrate; and whether he will grant a Return of 479 the cases tried under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, in whose adjudication Mr. MacSheehy has taken part? I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that, at the October Quarter Sessions of the County of Kildare, held before County Court Judge Darby, Colonel the Hon. W. F. Forbes, Resident Magistrate, was sued by several shopkeepers for goods supplied to his wife and children, and was also sued by Mary Grogan, a cook in his employment, to recover from him a sum of £7 8s. 10d., for wages, and 6s. for cash lent by her to her master; whether he is aware that County Court Judge Darby gave decrees in all the cases, certifying for fees for counsel, and allowing witnesses' expenses; and that Mrs. Forbes swore that whenever she went to her husband's study to speak to him about these bills, the lamp was always put out, and sometimes she was struck and knocked down by the said Colonel Forbes, Resident Magistrate; whether he is also aware that, at the Easter Quarter Sessions, the said Hon. Colonel Forbes, Resident Magistrate, was also sued, and decreed, for goods supplied by several tradesmen; whether it is intended to retain this gentleman in his position of Resident Magistrate; and whether he will grant a Return of the cases under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, in whose adjudication the Hon. Colonel Forbes has taken part?