§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)On behalf of the honourable Member for S. Donegal, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a summons was issued by Constable Fallon, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, now stationed at the police station of Mountcharles, Co Donegal, against John Morhun, of Mountcharles, who has been a teetotaller for nine years, for being drunk in the public street on the 17th of March; and that the summons, when Mr. Moohun's solicitor had stated the facts to the magistrates at petty sessions, was with drawn; and, whether any notice has been taken by the authorities of the conduct of Constable Fallon.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURIt is the fact that a summons was issued against Mr. Moohun by the constable named, for drunkenness, on the 17th March. Before any evidence was gone into, the defendant's solicitor appealed to the Bench, and said that his client had boon a teetotaller for nine years, and that he was so grieved and distressed at his being summoned that he was ill in consequence, and that if the Magistrates, owing to the facts stated, would take this into consideration it would materially aid the man's recovery. The charge of drunkenness was not denied, and the Magistrates, who were impressed with the appeal made to them on behalf of the defendant, suggested the withdrawal of the summons. This was done, and the defendant's solicitor thanked the police for their kindness. The constable seems to have acted properly in the circumstances.