HC Deb 25 July 1898 vol 62 cc1153-4
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether, seeing that the Crown right of reply whether witnesses are examined or not is in England confined exclusively to the law officers of the Crown, and its exercise is subject on the responsibility to Parliament attaching to the holders of law offices of the Crown, he will direct for the future that the Crown's right of reply by both the law officers and their representatives now in force in Ireland be not exercised by the representatives of the law officers in Crown cases when witnesses are not called for the defence?

MR. ATKINSON

The right of reply mentioned is in Ireland only claimed or exercised where the Attorney General or Solicitor General conducts the prosecution in person, or where it is conducted by some person appointed by the Attorney General, and for whose conduct the Attorney General is responsible. This has always been the practice in Ireland, and, in my opinion, a change in it is not desirable.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Is it not the fact that prosecutions in Ireland are uniformly conducted by the Attorney General or his representative, and that private prosecutions are unknown?

MR. ATKINSON

It is so generally, but not always.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Could you mention two such cases?

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