HC Deb 16 March 1894 vol 22 cc445-6
MR. GIBNEY (Meath, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Matthew Weld O'Connor, J.P., of Oldcastle, County Meath, Receiver to the Court of Chancery of the Estate of W. S. Garnett, was deficient in his accounts in the sum of £2,000; that he represented this to have arisen through an auctioneer owing him that sum for the proceeds of the grass lettings; and that on inquiry before the Chief Receiver of the Land Judges Court it was ascertained that no such money was due by the auctioneer, nor was any found to be due, the auctioneer having produced his receipts; whether Mr. O'Connor was dismissed or called on to resign; and, if not, on what grounds; is it the intention of the Government to prosecute him; does he a1 present hold any other receiverships, and will he be continued therein; is Mr. O'Connor the same receiver who in July, 1890, was dismissed after judgment in Court by Judge Munroe for falsifying his accounts in the King's Estate, and why was he then retained on the list of receivers; and, in view of the fact that Mr. O'Connor is a Magistrate for the Counties of Meath, Cavan, and Longford, has the attention of the Lord Chancellor been called to his conduct?

MR. J. MORLEY

The attention of the Lord Chancellor has not been called to any of the matters referred to, nor is he aware whether any of the statements are correct, as such matters are exclusively within the cognisance of the Receiver Judge, over whom the Executive has no control. If Mr. O'Connor's conduct as a Magistrate should be called in question, the Lord Chancellor has no doubt that the Judge will furnish him with any information that may he re quired.