§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on 14th December, 1897, at the Ardara Petty Sessions, county Donegal, fines amounting to £40, together with £4 costs of the prosecution, 934 were inflicted under the Truck Acts in the case of Deane v. Boyle; that by a ruling of the High Court in the case of Squire v. Sweeney this decision of the magistrates at the Ardara Petty Sessions was found to be illegal, and in consequence the £40 fines were remitted, and repaid to the defendant on 11th March, 1901; and that an application to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on 2nd April, 1901, for the £4 costs of prosecution inflicted on the defendant, was refused on the ground that the Lords Justices in remitting the fines imposed upon the defendant made no order respecting the costs; can he explain why the Irish Executive did not make an order for the remittance of these costs as well as of the fines, seeing that the costs were part of the penalties inflicted, and will steps be taken to secure the repayment to the defendant of the £4 costs of prosecution.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThere is no legal power in the Executive to order a remission of the costs in this case.