HC Deb 27 June 1904 vol 136 c1256
MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland by what authority did Mr. James Gray, R.M., of Enniskillen, object to the evidence of Mr. Nethercott in a recent case because it was given in Irish.

MR. WYNDHAM

The Irish statute of 11 George II., cap. 6, requires that the proceedings in a Court of Justice shall be conducted in English. The witness in this case admitted that he spoke English, and under the circumstances the resident magistrate was justified in requiring him to comply with the provisions of the statute. The resident magistrate states that as a matter of fact he rebuked the witness, not for his desire to give his evidence in Irish, but for the levity he displayed in the witness box.