§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant 878 of Ireland, whether his attention was directed to the circumstances attending the imprisonment of two gamekeepers in the employ of Lord Ashtown by order of a majority of magistrates at Bally-macarberry; and whether he will state upon what grounds the release of these men was ordered after one day's imprisonment.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe two men in question were released from prison by order of the Lords Justices acting for the Lord-Lieutenant. It would be quite contrary to practice and irregular to state the reasons which influence the exercise of the Lord-Lieutenant's prerogative in such cases.
§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say on whose report the Lords Justices acted?
§ MR. BIRRELLI cannot, but I have no doubt they received legal advice before they took the action they did.