§ MR. P. C. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) is he aware that the usual fortnightly Petty Sessions Court at Dungannon was not held on the 12th instant, and that a Magistrate entitled to sit and act in the Court could not gain admission when he arrived to discharge his duties at a quarter past eleven; (2) how many cases were entered for adjudication upon that day; and (3) will he take steps that in future neither the public nor individual magistrates be inconvenienced by such proceedings?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts appear to lie as stated in the first paragraph. The Assizes opened on the same date, and it has been the practice for many years, I understand, not to hold a Petty Sessions Court at Dungannon if the Assizes for the county open simultaneously. No cases were entered for hearing at the Petty Sessions Court on the date referred to, and no inconvenience was caused to the public. The Clerk did not think it necessary to attend on the Occasion, but he will do so in future in similar. circumstances.
§ MR.DOOGANArising out of that answer, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman is he aware that only two magistrates have occasion to attend the Assizes as Grand Jurors, and that from six to ten are usually present on the Dungannon Bench?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am not aware if that.