§ MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Ex - inspector John M'Carthy, of the Metropolitan Police, on January 28th, 1904, after twenty-two and a-half years' service, was dismissed on the unsworn and uncorroborated statement of a street-betting man named David Curtis; and whether he proposes to take any further steps in the matter, in view of the fact that M'Carthy has sworn that the charge made against him by Curtis is absolutely false.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone): The charges against Inspector M'Carthy were investigated with the utmost care by the Commissioner of Police, who, after giving him every opportunity for his defence,Came to the conclusion that he was guilty and that it was impossible to retain him in the force. This conclusion was fully confirmed by the verdict of a jury in March, 1905, when M'Carthy brought an action for slander against Curtis. Curtis then gave his evidence on oath, and it was supported by the sworn testimony of other witnesses. The jury, after a trial that lasted four days, gave a verdict for defendant, and I have not the slightest doubt that they were right.