§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Dr. Jennings, J.P., Skibbereen, who was charged last week in the Petty Sessions Court, Skibbereen, with assaulting and wounding his servant Mary Collins; whether the attention of the Lord Chancellor has been called to the conduct of Dr. Jennings in this case, and in other breaches of the peace by this gentleman; and whether the Lord Chancellor intends to remove him from the Commission of the Peace?
§ MR. FLYNNBefore the right honourable Gentleman answers that Question, may I ask whether it is not the fact whether the charge brought by Mary Collins was not dismissed by the magistrates, in Petty Sessions assembled, and whether a summons by the police against the same defendant was not also dismissed at the same sessions?
§ MR. P. O'BRIENWas there not collusion between this man and the police officers?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.I have been furnished with a report of the proceedings on the hearing of the charge referred to in the first paragraph. The complainant, on being called, stated that the defendant had not assaulted her, and the case was thereupon dismissed by the magistrates on the merits. Under the circumstances, there is nothing in this case calling for action on the part of the Lord Chancellor. In August of last year the honourable Member drew attention to certain proceedings on the part of Dr. Jennings, who, it was alleged, had obstructed the issue of a summons against himself on a charge of assault, which charge was subsequently withdrawn. No grounds whatever have been shown for superseding him in the Commission of the Peace.
§ MR. P. O'BRIENDid not Mary Collins tell the police that the doctor had assaulted her, and is it not notorious in the district that she refused to give 690 evidence because she had been squared by the doctor?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ [No Reply.]