§ MR. KENDAL O'BRIEN (Tipperary, Mid.)To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that a man, named Philip Stokes, was charged at Killenaule Petty Sessions, in the county of Tipperary, at the suit of the Crown, with having, at Ballingarry on the 24th December and on other occasions, used intimidation towards Thomas Bradley, on account of his working for a person, named Butler, who grabbed the farm from which Stokes was evicted, and was bound to the peace for twelve months or in default to go to gaol for one month, which alternative the defendant chose; and whether having regard to the fact that the magistrates would not allow the defendant or his witness, Mr. Dalton, to give evidence for the defence, he proposes to take any, and if any, what, action in the case.
(Answered by Mr. Cherry.) This is not a matter in which I have any authority or jurisdiction to interfere. The action of the magistrates in refusing to hear evidence for the defence was, I believe, technically correct, following the decision of the King's Bench Division in the case of Halpin (Appellant), Rice (respondent) (1901), 2 Ir. R., 593.