§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Monaghan County Council passed a resolution requesting the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to revoke the proclamation under the Peace Preservation Act from the baronies of Farnie and Cremorne, as well as the parish of Ematris in that county; and whether he will grant the prayer of the County Council in this matter when it is remembered that the county court judge at Monaghan has been presented with white gloves five times, and at 1242 Castleblaney eight times, during the past five years, owing to the crimeless state of the county, and that during the time mentioned the county Monaghan was the only county in Ulster without any cases to be tried at the winter assizes.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The resolution referred to in the first paragraph has been received. It is the fact that no criminal cases have been tried by the county court judge at Monaghan and Castleblaney Quarter Sessions during the past five years. There have been, however, five cases tried at winter assizes from the county during the same period. The resolution appears to assume that the general condition of the county is evidenced by the number of cases for trial before a Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Unfortunately this is not so, as many outrages of a serious character have been committed in the county for which no persons have been made amenable. The County Council have been informed that the Government do not consider it desirable to revoke the proclamation in question.