§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings connected with the recent election of Petty Sessions Clerk for Doneraile, County Cork district, when several magistrates who took part in the election infringed the rules laid down for the guidance of Justices on such occasions; is he aware that Lord Castletown voted on that occasion for Mr. Roche, though his Lordship does not reside in the county, and had never sat on the Bench before; also that Mr. Levinge, voted on the same occasion, though only appointed a magistrate that very day'; and, if the facts be as above stated, will the attention of the Lord Chancellor be called to these infringements of the rules laid down under the Petty Sessions Acts?
§ MR. MADDENI have inquired into the circumstances of the election referred to in the question, and I find that there were two candidates—Mr. Murphy and Mr. Roche, and that the votes of two magistrates who voted for Mr. Roche, and of one who voted for Mr. Murphy, were subsequently disallowed. There is nothing before me to suggest that these votes were given otherwise than bonâ fide. Lord Castletown has a residence in the district, which he occasionally visits, but it was held that he did not reside within the meaning of the rule. There does not appear to have been any intentional infringement of the rule.
§ MR. FLYNNDid not Lord Castletown vote on the occasion in question in violation of the regulations laid down?
§ MR. MADDENI have said that Lord Castletown voted under a misapprehension, but there is no evidence that his vote was tendered in other than a bonâ fide manner.
§ MR. MADDENCertainly.