HC Deb 03 July 1907 vol 177 cc703-4
MR. SLOAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attenton has been called to the case of Mr. John Harrington, who was recently imprisoned by the Dungiven magistrates, and whose judgment has been quashed by the King's Bench; if he is aware that the district inspector of the National Board entered the magistrates' room when they retired from the bench to consult on the case; did the magistrates convict Harrington at the instance of the Board's inspector; and, if so, what action, if any, has been taken in the matter; and whether, in view of the treatment of Harrington, the Board will consider the advisability of directing their inspectors that any evidence they have to give in court against teachers shall be given on oath, so as to afford an opportunity for cross-examination.

MR. BIRRELL

In this case Mr. Harrington, who is a national school teacher, was convicted by the magistrates of an assault on a pupil, and the King's Bench Division subsequently quashed the conviction. It appears that the National Board's inspector attended to watch the case before the magistrates, and that after the evidence had boon heard and the magistrates had retired to consult as to their decision they called the inspector to their room and asked him to state the Board's rules in regard to corporal punishment, which he did. The inspector was not a witness in the case, and he was not asked nor did he offer any opinion upon the facts or merits of the case. Having regard to these facts, the Commissioners do not consider it necessary to issue any instructions to their inspectors in the matter.

MR. SLOAN

asked if it was not the case that it was on the advice of this inspector that the magistrates gave a decision which was quashed by King's Bench, and would the right hon. Gentleman instruct the National Board to prevent their inspectors consulting with the magistrates in such a fashion that they could not be subjected to cross examination.

ME. BIRRELL

Probably the magistrates were ill-advised in not getting the information from the Inspector in open court. I will communicate with the Commissioners.