§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord 477 Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that at the petty sessions court in Kiladysert, Mr. Clancy, a reporter, was removed from court by orders of District Inspector Patrick; and, if so, will he state for what reason and under what authority the police exercised this power.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe reporter was not removed from the court. But, after the business of petty sessions had concluded and the general public had left the court, the agent and some of the tenants of an adjoining estate remained in order to perfect before one of the justices some statutory declarations verifying their purchase agreements. This was entirely a private matter, and the district inspector requested the reporter to leave. It would have been more prudent for the officer to have allowed the justice present to require the reporter to leave, but he acted from the best motives and, at most, was guilty of an error of judgment.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDsuggested that the police should be instructed not to act thus in the future without directions from the magistrates.