§ CAPTAIN DONELANOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Cork, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that 1473 at the Rosscarbery Petty Sessions, held on the 22nd June, an application was made by the Dean of Ross to commit a child named Callaghan to a Protestant institution under the Industrial Schools Act; whether he is aware that the child has been for seven years deserted by his father, who is a Protestant and is separated from his wife, who is a Catholic; that an uncle of the child, who is a Catholic, has for seven years maintained the child; and that the sergeant of police swore that the little boy was always well fed and well clothed by the uncle; and, if so, whether, in view of the latter's character and his willingness to keep the child, steps will be taken to discharge the child from this Protestant industrial school to which he has been committed.
I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to an application heard at the Rosscarbery Petty Sessions, held on 22nd June, to commit a boy named Callaghan to a Protestant industrial school, and to the fact that one of the magistrates was a son of Dean Reeves, on whose behalf the application was made; if so, will he say how many magistrates were present and what was their religious denomination; is he aware that the hearing of the application was adjourned to 20th July; that at the adjourned hearing four magistrates who were not present on the first occasion were not allowed to adjudicate by the chairman, Mr. Harrell, R.M., and that these magistrates left the Court as a protest against the chairman's ruling; and, if so, whether any steps will be taken to quash the decision arrived at in the absence of these magistrates.
§ MR. WYNDHAMApplication to commit this child to a Protestant industrial school was made on the 22nd June. I am informed that the child had been left during the past seven years by its father, who is a Protestant, with the child's maternal uncle, who is a Catholic. The police stated that the boy had been well fed and clothed by the latter. Eight magistrates were present at the hearing of the application; six of them were Protestants and two 1474 Catholics. The case, which was almost concluded on this day, was adjourned to 20th July to enable police inquiries to be made. At the adjourned hearing, four justices, who were not present on the 22nd June, were in attendance, and as the magistrates who presided on the 22nd June decided that the case should not be commenced de novo, the former could not adjudicate. These four justices then left the Court. One of the magistrates who adjudicated was son of Dean Reeves, whose curate applied for the committal of the child. On the 20th July the child was committed to a Protestant industrial school. He is stated in the committal order to be a Protestant. No application for the boy's discharge has been made. The order of committal is in legal form. If the Bench have acted improperly them conduct and decision are open to review, and no duty is imposed upon the Executive of taking steps for the purpose of reviewing the decision of the magistrates.