§ MR. AUSTIN (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland why, in the case of the Queen v. Thomas and Patrick Harrigan, at Askeaton Petty Sessions on 10th May, the charge in the summons was altered on the morning of hearing by District Inspector Webster from that of unlawful assault and wounding to that of common assault, and why the medical certificate was withheld from the magistrates?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe honourable Member appears to have been misinformed in this case. The accused were not brought up at petty sessions on summons. They were charged with having seriously assaulted and beaten one James Blackwell, and this was the only charge entered for hearing and dealt with by the justices. Their attention was directed by the district inspector to the medical certificate, but they did not consider medical evidence necessary.