§ MR. J. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state how much the Grand Jury of County Monaghan have paid out of the money of the public in county cess on the evicted farms of Mr. Shirley, a grand juror of the county; whether the accounts of the Monaghan Grand Jury were audited; 483 and, if he can state the name of the auditor?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that the Grand Jury of County Monaghan have re-presented at Assizes, extending over a number of years, for county cess which had been returned by the Barony High Constable in respect of evicted farms on the Shirley estate. The moneys represented for are shown in the accounts of the Grand Jury, and amount to £78 17s. during the past four years. I understand that proceedings were recently taken against Mr. Shirley for the recovery of cess on vacant farms, and that the case was adjourned by the County Court Judge for the decision of the Grand Jury as to presenting at the present Assizes. The accounts of the Grand Jury have been audited by Mr. Sheehan, the district auditor, and it is hardly necessary to point out that the auditor can take no objection to presentments duly fiated by the Judge of Assize.