§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can say if it is intended to continue the practice of furnishing guards of honour to the Judges of Assize in Ireland; from what source is the expense thereof defrayed; and, in view of the fact that the Lord Chief Justice frequently walked from his temporary residence to the Cork court house during the last winter assizes, unescorted and unattended, and many of the learned Judges dislike this quasi-military parade in connection with the discharge of civil functions, the Irish Government will consider the advisability of modifying or abolishing it.
§ MR. CHERRYBy long established usage military or police guards of honour and escorts are furnished to the going Judges of Assize in Ireland. When the guard is a military one the expense, if any, is defrayed from Army Votes, but the amount must be immaterial seeing that the practice of supplying such guards is confined to garrison towns. When the guard is supplied by the police the cost falls on the Vote for the Royal Irish Constabulary. There is no official information showing that the Lord Chief Justice dispensed with an escort at the last winter assizes at Cork. It is not intended to discontinue the practice in question.
§ MR. FLYNNWill the right hon. Gentleman accept it from me that at the last assizes I frequently saw learned Judges walking about unescorted and unattended?
§ MR. CHERRYCertainly.