§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board refused to grant a sworn inquiry asked for by Mr. Terence Byrne, a candidate at the last election of Guardians at the Shillelagh Union, into the conduct of that election, on the ground that the Board considered the explanations of the Returning Officer satisfactory; whether he is aware that Mr. Byrne made certain charges against the Returning Officer of having disallowed eight votes duly recorded for him, and allowed certain other votes which he alleges were illegal for his opponent, Mr. Casey, who was declared elected by a majority of two votes, and that Mr. Byrne charges the Returning Officer with having acted as a partisan of Mr. Casey, and states his willingness to support his charges and allegations on oath if the inquiry is granted; whether, under these circumstances, he will recommend the Board to re-consider their decision, and grant a sworn inquiry as in the case of Cork, where, as in this case, forgery and other malpractices are alleged; and whether he is aware that since the refusal of the Board to grant the inquiry, Mr. Byrne, the defeated candidate, has sent to the Local Government Board a sworn delaration in support of his charges, and that Mr. Thomas Kingston, whose votes were disallowed by the Returning Officer on the ground that they were signed with his mark, and which, if allowed, would have given Mr. Byrne a majority of legal votes, has also forwarded to the Board a sworn declaration that he could not write, and that his votes were filled for Mr. Byrne by his authority, and his mark attached to each?
§ MR. JACKSONI am not able to answer the question, and I should be glad if the hon. Member would put down the question for another day.