§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at French Park on the 25th inst., when the hon. Member for North Longford was tried before two resident magistrates on a charge of inciting to conspiracy; is he aware that the magistrates, in dismissing the prosecution, commented on the inaccuracies of the shorthand notes of Constable McDonagh; and, will he state how many persons have been convicted on evidence furnished by police note-takers since the reintroduction of the Criminal Law and Procedure Act into Ireland.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI believe that on cross-examination some inaccuracies were detected in the shorthand writer's notes. In all the other cases where police note-takers were examined, they were either cross-examined or were presented for cross-examination. In these cases no inaccuracies were, I believe, detected in the notes, and in few if any cases was evidence given to contradict them. I am unable to state in which cases the evidence of the shorthand writers was the only incriminatory evidence given.
§ MR. FLYNNAre any precautions taken to ensure the competence of the men employed on duties of this kind?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir.