§ MR. JAMES O'KELLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at Keadue Petty Sessions, county Roscommon, a man named Bernard Gaffney appeared on summons to answer a charge of trespassing in search of game on the lands of Stonepark; that at the hearing the charge stated in the summons was abandoned, and the man proceeded against for shooting a pheasant; that the defendant was convicted and fined £3, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment, for the offence of which he had received no notice; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
MR. BRYCEI am informed that at Keadue Petty Sessions, on 2nd instant, Bernard Gaffney was summoned by a gamekeeper for trespassing in search of game on the lands of Stonepark, and was fined £3, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment, upon that precise charge, which was in no sense abandoned. Gaffney had been on 5th October fined 10s. for shooting a pheasant on the same lands. The case is not one which calls for any steps on the part of the Government, who have no power to interfere with the judicial action of magistrates.