CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at a hearing of a summons for recovery of possession of a small tenement in Castleblayney, Lord Hope's estate, county Monaghan, under 14 and 15 Vic, cap, 92, sec. 15, at petty sessions in Castleblaney on the 27th November last, a warrant was issued by the magistrates for possession; that, on the order being made by the magistrates, the Royal Irish Constabulary, by their district inspector and sergeant, strongly opposed the warrant being directed to the police for execution, and asked that the warrant be issued to a special bailiff; that, being pressed, the constabulary declined to give their authority from the Government for departing from what has been the ordinary practice for the past fifty years, though asked to do so by the bench of magistrates, on the grounds that their instructions were confidential; and will he explain why these instructions were given to the constabulary.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the police authorities that the facts are substantially as stated in the Question. Under the Act quoted, the magistrates may address the warrant for possession either to a special bailiff or to the police; and, in accordance with the long standing practice, the district inspector requested the magistrates to address the warrant in this particular case to a special bailiff, adding that the constabulary would afford all necessary protection to the bailiff so appointed. The magistrates complied with the request of the district inspector, and addressed the warrant to a special bailiff.