§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a lunatic had to be detained for two days in the police barrack at Annagh, Borrisokane district, recently, because two magistrates could not be got to attend to sign the necessary committal to a lunatic asylum; whether he is aware that the Lord Chancellor was asked to appoint additional magistrates for this particular district as far back as March last, and that no appointment has yet been made; and whether, in view of 345 the necessity for more magistrates, he will see that appointments are made as soon as possible.
MR. BRYCEI am informed that on Saturday, 15th September, the police at Annagh were unable to obtain the attendance of two magistrates early in the day. Two magistrates, however, were procured in the evening, and the necessary committal was then signed, but as there was no train to Clonmel, where the asylum is situate, until Monday morning, it was necessary to detain the lunatic at the police station. It appears that most of the magistrates of the locality wore absent at the Banagher annual horse fair, and it is stated that there is, as a rule, no difficulty in procuring a sufficient attendance of magistrates. The Lord Chancellor informs me that he has recently appointed two new magistrates to attend at Borrisokane Petty Sessions, in which district Annagh is situate, and that he is about to appoint a third, who is resident near Annagh.