HC Deb 18 March 1902 vol 105 cc327-8
MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the Petty Sessions Court held at Sneem, County Kerry, in November, 1901, one of the magistrates remained on the bench during the hearing of a case against his bailiff, Timothy Buckley, and that, in the absence of a consulting room for the magistrates, after the court had been cleared, this magistrate remained on the bench, although frequent objections to his so doing were raised by the solicitor for the plantiff; and whether he is aware that another of the magistrates who was adjudicating said openly that he would give permission to this magistrate to remain in court during the consultation on the case; and will he cause an inquiry to be made.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) Dover

The magistrate referred to, on his own initiative, declined to take part in the hearing of the case. The chairman declined to call upon him to leave the court, there being no consulting room.

MR. BOLAND

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the Petty Sessions held at Sneem, County Kerry, in November, 1901, the clerk admitted that he had sent word to Timothy Buckley, a local bailiff, to the effect that a summons had been taken out against his wife, whereupon a cross summons was taken out by Timothy Buckley; and, in view of the fact that the magistrates reprimanded the clerk for exceeding his duty, will an undertaking be required from him that this offence shall not be repeated.

MR. WYNDHAM

The magistrates informed the clerk that his action was irregular. There is no reason to apprehend a recurrence of the irregularity, and no undertaking, such as suggested, is required.