HC Deb 21 April 1902 vol 106 cc814-5
MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the opening of the Cork Borough Sessions on the 16th instant; is he aware that the Recorder congratulated the Grand Jury on having so little to do at the sessions, said that the eases were few in number and light in character, and that he had little to do in the matter of Crown law in the city of Cork; and whether, under these circumstances, he can state what reasons the Executive Government put forward for extending the provisions of the Criminal Law and Procedure Act to the city of Cork.

MR. WYNDHAM

The reasons for the application to parts of Ireland of certain of the provisions of the Criminal Law and Procedure Act were explained by me at some length on Thursday last in this House. To the statement I made on that occasion I have nothing to add. I may, however, correct one error. The city of Cork has not been proclaimed under Section 2.

MR. FLYNN (Cork Co., N.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the recent assizes in Cork the judges complimented the Grand Jury on the utter absence of crime from both the city and county?

MR. WYNDHAM

I dealt with that point in my speech last Thursday.

MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN

Then are we to understand that it does not master what the condition of the county may be in regard to crime—

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!