HC Deb 14 March 1901 vol 90 cc1597-8
MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of the larceny' of Quinlan's ass, which was the only case to go before the grand jury at Tullamore assizes, and to the remarks of Mr. Justice Johnston in respect of the amount of expenses incurred; and will he direct the repayment of the expenses which fell on the ratepayers.

MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)

At the same time, may I ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether it has been brought to his notice that the calendar at the last King's County assizes consisted of only one criminal case, in which the grand jury found no hill, and that Mr. Justice Johnston stated that the case was a matter for civil action; and whether he will inform the House what official was responsible for sending the case forward to the assizes.

MR. ATKINSON

At the request of my right hon. friend, I will reply to these two questions together, My attention has been called to the reports published in the daily press of the remarks of Mr. Justice Johnston on the occasion referred to. I cannot say whether the report is accurate or not. I do not find any observation of the learned Judge as to a civil action such as is mentioned in the question. The magistrates at petty sessions returned the accused for trial to the assizes for larceny. The depositions disclosed a strong prima facie case for investigation by that grand jury. My colleague the Solicitor General for Ireland most properly, in my opinion, on the 18th February, 1901, in the ordinary course, directed the prosecution to be taken up by the Crown. The expenses of this, like those of all other cases taken in charge by the Crown, are paid by the Imperial Exchequer.

MR. REDDY

Is it not true that Mr. Justice Johnston censured the Crown Solicitor for bringing forward the case; and that he said he brought it on the express direct ion of the Attorney General, who the judge said ought to pay the costs?

MR. ATKINSON

I do not think the learned judge said anything of the kind.

MR. FLAVIN

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what was the age of Quinlan's ass?

MR. ROCHE

I desire to know if the right hon. Gentleman will act on the suggestion of the learned judge, namely, that when Quinlan's ass pays the debt of nature it shall be stuffed and kept carefully in the museum at Dublin?