§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether notice of the motion to change the venue and fix a special jury in the case of the Crown against Stapleton, Delaney, and Carroll, of Borrisoleigh, Tipperary, was served on the defendants; and whether it is proposed to exercise the right of unlimited challenge in selecting the jury before which the accused are to be tried in Cork.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham). No notice of the application was given because none is required to be given, but the copy of the order when made was served on the accused as provided by the statute. It is intended to use 692 such powers as the Crown possess, when necessary, to secure an impartial trial.
§ MR. P. J. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Government formed the opinion that a fair trial by a special jury in the case against Stapleton, Delaney, and Carroll, of Borrisoleigh could not have been had at the recent assizes held at Nenagh; and, if so, will he state upon what grounds that opinion was based.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Attorney-General, with all the materials before him, formed the opinion that a more fair and impartial trial could be obtained in Cork than in Tipperary, and in exercise of the powers vested in him by statute made the application for a change of venue and a special jury. The grounds on which that opinion and belief were formed cannot be stated, the more especially as the trial is proceeding.