§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the addition of hard labour to a sentence of imprisonment inflicted under The Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887, carrying with it prohibition of service on any local body for five years, it is intended to continue to inflict such addition to sentences for political offences on local representatives.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe disqualification is statutory in Ireland, as in England, under the Local Government Acts applicable to the two countries. Sentences within the limits prescribed by the Criminal Law and Procedure Act of 1887 are imposed by resident magistrates subject to revision on appeal by County Court judges. Those who act in either of these judicial capacities impose sentences in accordance with the gravity of each particular offence proved to have been committed. I decline to accept the suggestion that they harbour any intentions of a general character.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases this effect of imposing hard labour has been pointed out to the magistrates?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)Have not two removable magistrates actually announced that they did not know this was the law of Ireland?
§ [No answer was returned.]