§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that the Circuits have now been arranged for the Summer Assizes in Ireland, the Government intend, in view of the failure of the juries in Clare and Limerick at the last Assizes, to make arrangements under which prisoners who may be charged with serious offences in these counties shall be tried outside the local venue?
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether the words "in view of the failure of the juries" are in Order; is it right to put down in the form of a question an assumption of so grave a statement of fact?
§ * MR. SPEAKERI read the question to mean failure of the juries to agree.
§ MR. SEXTONBut the question does not say that.
§ MR. SPEAKERI put the most charitable interpretation on the words.
MR. J. MORLEYThe Government do not, under present circumstances, intend to make arrangements of the nature indicated.
§ MR. SEXTONWhat is it that the juries have failed to do? Is it the view of the Government that a jury "fails" unless it convicts?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI referred to the statement of Mr. Justice O'Brien at the last Assizes, when he was reported to have said that, in mercy to the jurors themselves, who had been plainly terrorized, he hoped some means would be found to remove the criminal jurisdiction out of the county.
MR. J. MORLEYI have not before me the figures for the last two Assizes in Clare and Limerick; but my impression is that, on the whole, the proceedings of the juries did not amount to a failure.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLHas not the right hon. Gentleman read the words of Mr. Justice O'Brien at the close of the Spring Assizes in County Clare, in which he stated that seven persons had been brought before him and, without excep- 196 tion, acquitted, and that, in mercy to the jurors, who had been plainly terrorised, he hoped some means would be found for trying these cases out of the county?