HC Deb 10 July 1903 vol 125 cc1151-2
MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, can he state on what grounds permission to inspect the Courthouse at Sneem was refused by the petty sessions clerk to the hon. Member for South Kerry and Mr. John Sheehan, a local justice, twelve months ago, when it was stated that the courthouse was in a bad state of repair.

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

The petty sessions clerk withheld permission on that occasion because he had not the authority of the justices in petty sessions.

MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

Then do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to lay it down that a magistrate has no right to enter into the Courthouse in which he adjudicates?

MR. WYNDHAM

If the hon. Member will read my Answer he will see I laid down nothing of the kind.

MR. BOLAND

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the magistrates sitting at Sneem petty sessions, county Kerry, unanimously adjourned the Court in June and July owing to the Courthouse being in an in sanitary condition and in such a bad state of repair as to be a danger to the magistrates sitting therein; whether he is aware that the landlord receives £10 † See (4) Debates, cxxiv., 810. rent per annum from the Kerry County Council; and whether steps will be taken to secure that the Courthouse be put into a proper state of repair.

MR. WYNDHAM

The landlord is quite willing, I understand, to put the Courthouse into a proper state of repair, but there is a dispute between him and the County Council as to the terms of the lease.