§ MR. JAMES CAMPBELLI beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether, in the cases which, owing to an equal division of the justices, prosecutions in Ireland by summons for agrarian offences have recently proved abortive, it is his intention in these and similar cases in the future to proceed, in accordance with constitutional usage, against the accused by information and warrant, or by indictment before the grand jury at assizes, and thus obviate the scandal and expense of these abortive proceedings.
§ MR. CHERRYI cannot undertake to lay down any general rule as to how I shall proceed in such cases as are mentioned in the Question. Each particular case must be dealt with according to its special circumstances. Hitherto, where the Bench has been equally divided the case has been always adjourned to the next sessions, and in all cases I think a decision one way or the other has been ultimately arrived at. In the future, as in the past, every constitutional means at my disposal will be used to bring to justice persons who are believed to have violated the law.
§ MR. JAMES CAMPBELLTake a concrete case. In the Roscrea case the Bench has been equally divided on three occasions. Does the right hon. Gentleman now propose to drop further proceedings?
§ MR. CHERRYI must ask for notice of that Question.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs it in accordance with constitutional usage to proceed by information?
§ MR. CHERRYI think it must have been done in recent times.