§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the cases of Betty Riordan, of Millstreet, County Cork, who died on 15th October, and John Riordan, of the same place, who died on 2nd November, both being insured in the Prudential Insurance Society; if the poor claimants, being next-of-kin, asked the local registrar eight times to register their deaths; if he is aware that the poor claimants buried the aged couple, and, despite the non-production of the certificates from the registrar, humanely paid their claims unconditionally on 23rd January; and, whether some steps will be taken to improve the existing condition of the Law of registration in Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIn the two cases mentioned in the first paragraph, it is a fact that the registrar refused to register the deaths at the ages tendered, namely 67 in the case of the female, and 71 in the case of the male. It appears that the registrar, who was also the medical attendant of the deceased persons, had reason to believe from statements they made to him during their illnesses, that both were 525 considerably older than was represented, and an examination of the census records showed that the woman was 87 years of age at her death, and that the man was 84 when he died. This information was communicated to the parties by the registrar, who also acquainted them he would register the deaths if the certified ages were given. The lives of the deceased were insured, but I am unable to answer the third. paragraph. The suggestion in the last paragraph seems to have been made under a misconception of the actual
§ DR. TANNERMay I ask if it is not a fact that the action taken was calculated to deprive these poor children of the right of inheritance? I will put another question on this.