§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the instructions which were sent to the High Sheriff of the county of Cork 1148 from Dublin Castle on Friday last in reference to the holding of the United Irish League Convention in the County Council chamber of the Cork court house.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The High Sheriff was informed as follows— The custody of the court house is given to you as High Sheriff for the purpose mainly and primarily of providing for the administration of justice. So far as is consistent with that provision, you should allow the court house to be used by the County Council for the execution of their duties (Local Government Act, 1898, s. 72, ss. 3), but for no other purpose whatsoever. It is obvious that the promotion of a political meeting is not a part of the duty of the County Council, and a High Sheriff would utterly fail in his duty, for the discharge of which he is responsible to the Government, if he should allow a court house to be used for a political meeting, and it is your duty to resist any attempt to invade the building for such a purpose. In the discharge of that duty you are entitled to call for and to receive the assistance of the police.