§ MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday, the 12th of July, Mr. D. Dunn, P.L.G., of Rostrevor, County Down, accompanied by another ratepayer of the same place, waited on Mr. Horner, J.P., to swear an informa 936 tion that if an Orange procession was permitted to pass through the village of Rostrevor on Monday, the 13th of July, a breach of the peace would most certainly follow, and that Mr. Horner, though bound as a Magistrate to receive this information, nevertheless refused, and declared his intention of leading the Orange procession in person; whether the information was subsequently sworn before Mr. Charles Leslie, J.P., and notice served on the police that the information had been laid; is he aware that these facts having been brought to the knowledge of Mr. Horner, he insisted on the procession passing through Rostrevor when he headed it himself, and that a disturbance actually took place as anticipated, and an Orangeman was sent for trial on a serious charge arising there from; and, if the facts of the case be as stated, whether the Lord Chancellor proposes to take notice of Mr. Horner's conduct?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand that the Magistrate mentioned did, in the exercise of his discretion, decline to take the information, but he at once communicated with the local constabulary officer, who took steps to increase the extra force of police already ordered. The Magistrate does not appear to have declared the intention attributed to him, nor did he, as a matter of fact, lead the procession. A disturbance did take place, in which it is represented the processionists were not the aggressors, but as the case is sub judice, I am precluded from entering into details.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs this gentleman a paid Resident Magistrate?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will address a question to my right hon. Friend the Attorney General, or put it on the Paper. I cannot answer it off-hand.
§ MR. CRILLYDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that, notwithstanding the reports in the public papers, this man was not at the head of the procession?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe statement that he led the procession does not accord with the information I have received.