§ MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) if the statement is true that Mr. John Ross, Q.C., has been or is about to be appointed to the Judicial Bench in Ireland; and (2) will Mr. Ross take over from the hands of Judge Boyd such land court business as that Judge has been performing for Mr. Justice Monroe; and, if so, will steps be taken to bring to trial Patrick M 'Quaide, of Gola, County Monaghan, who has been for almost two months confined in Dundalk Gaol without being arraigned, the man's alleged offence being a simple trespass upon his evicted farm?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt is a fact that Mr. Ross has been appointed to be Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland in the room of Mr. Monroe, who has resigned. I am not in a position to reply to the first part of the second paragraph; but as regards the man M'Quaide, I have already explained to the hon. Member that the Executive Government cannot interfere with the jurisdiction of the Receiver 174 Judge, who committed him for contempt, or take any steps as suggested in the question. The man's discharge from prison lies very much in his own hands, and if he instructs a solicitor to appear before the Judge and express regret for his action, and also promises not to repeat the offence, the Judge, there is little doubt, would, as in other similar cases, be inclined to favourably entertain an application for his discharge from prison.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is considered that the appointment of another Judge is absolutely necessary. The Irish Bench is well manned?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThat has been fully considered, and there is no doubt that in this case it is necessary.