§ *MR. DELANYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant a Return, covering the past thirty years, showing the number of criminal cases in Ireland in which jurors were told to stand aside by the Crown, the number and religion of those jurors set aside, the religion of the prisoners, and the offences with which they were charged.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe religion of jurors ordered to stand aside is not re-corded or even inquired into, nor are any records kept which would enable me to answer the first part of the question. The religion of prisoners might be ascertained, but not of persons admitted to bail. The Return asked for on this latter head would involve considerable trouble, and no good purpose would be served by it.
§ *MR. DELANYWill the right hon. Gentleman give a Return covering the period of which the present Government have been in office?
§ MR. ATKINSONI have said that no records are kept.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs there not a certain Crown Prosecutor at Dublin Castle—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ *MR. DELANYAre any jurors except Catholics challenged?
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENWill the right hon. Gentleman pledge his honour to the House that he does not know—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The question on the Paper has been answered.