HC Deb 03 July 1902 vol 110 cc695-6
MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Alexander Knox M'Intyre, an official assignee of the Bankruptcy Court in Ireland, has appeared at recent prosecutions in Clare under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, and also at Sligo, where Mr. M'Hugh was to be tried on a charge of conspiracy; and seeing that this gentleman is examined in these cases as an expert in handwriting, can he explain how this public officer can so frequently absent himself from his duties, whether fees or allowances are allowed him for these appearances, and whether it is in accordance with his directions that a public officer should appear in these cases; and whether he will obtain a correct account of the description given of this gentleman by the Solicitor General for Ireland in a recent case in Dublin.

MR. WYNDHAM

Mr. M'Intyre is an officer of the Court of Bankruptcy, appointed by the Judge of that Court, and removable by him. He is paid as such by fees, and is not an official of the Irish Government. He appeared in the cases referred to as an expert in handwriting with the permission of the Judge of the Bankruptcy Court, and his duties in that Court were in no respect neglected. When so employed on behalf of the Crown he was remunerated according to the scale applicable to such witnesses. I am not aware that the Solicitor General has given any description of this gentleman recently, or in Dublin. The hon. and learned Member has probably in mind a portion of Mr. Campbell's address to a Belfast jury in March, 1901, before he accepted office. He was counsel for the defence and made the usual remarks on expert evidence offered by the prosecution.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what the remark was which was made by Mr. Campbell with reference to this gentleman?

MR. WYNDHAM

He warned the jury that expert evidence should be listened to with caution.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Did he describe him as a "perfect imposter?" Was that the phrase used by the present Solicitor General for Ireland with reference to this official now employed as an expert witness in a Crown prosecution?

MR. WYNDHAM

I am not aware of it. I understand it is not unusual for counsel to animadvert on expert evidence.