§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why no Nationalists or Catholics were summoned on the grand jury for the County of Donegal for the last spring assizes; and whether he will state the respective percentage of Catholics and Protestants in that country; and will he take steps to have this state of affairs remedied.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) Grand juries are empanneled by high sheriffs under the provisions of the Grand Jury Acts. I am informed by the high sheriff of County Donegal that the grand jury at the recent assizes was empanneled in the 830 usual way, and that one Catholic was summoned, but did not attend. According to the census of 1901, the percentage of Roman Catholics in the county was 77.73, and of Protestants, 21.84. The high sheriff, however, informs me that though Catholics generally are in a great majority in the county, thos who are qualified by Statute for the grand jury form a very small minority. It is not alleged that the provisions of the law have not been observed, and the Government have, therefore, no power to interfere in the matter.