§ MR. J. G. SWIFT MACNEILL (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been called 1285 to a report of the Donegal Petty Sessions, held on Wednesday the 20th ultimo, where Constable Patrick Wall, of the Mountcharles Police Station, charged Patrick Gallagher, of Mountcharles, with being drunk and disorderly, and on the case being investigated by the Magistrates (Mr. Gerald Butler, R.M., presiding) they dismissed it, and censured the constable; (2) is he aware that within the past three months this constable has brought several charges against publicans and others, which on investigation by the Donegal Bench were dismissed; and (3) whether the authorities intend to take any, and, if so, what action in reference to the conduct of this constable?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have been furnished with a report of the proceedings on the hearing of this case-Complaint having been made by the defendant as to the action of the constable, he was informed that he should take out a summons against the constable, on the charge of violation of duty under Section 19 of the 6 & 7 William IV., cap. 13, when the Magistrates in Petty Sessions could make a sworn inquiry into the case, and deal with it as provided for under the Statute. This step Mr. Gallagher proposes to take. The fact is not as stated in the second paragraph; of nine prosecutions brought by this constable during the past three months only two were dismissed.
§ MR. MACNEILLwas understood to ask why, the Magistrates having censured this constable, the Constabulary authorities would not investigate his conduct with a view to some action?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid that a remedy having been provided by law, the suggestion of the hon. Member had no force.