§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, when issuing warrants for the arrest of some parties charged with offences arising out of the Ballingeary disturbances, Mr. O'Hara, resident magistrate for the Macroom district, framed the warrants in such a fashion that the persons against whom they were issued should, when arrested, be brought before himself and no other; will he say if it is the usual practice for resident magistrates to exercise a power of this kind; and will he offer any explanation of the course adopted by Mr. O'Hara, which reflected on the character and impartiality of the ordinary justices of the peace.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. The warrants were issued on 6th October last. The resident magistrate acted within his powers as a justice of the peace in directing, in the warrants, that the persons against whom they were issued should be brought before himself. The adoption of such a course by Mr. O'Hara or any other justice of the peace does not reflect upon the impartiality of other magistrates.