§ MR. KENDAL O'BRIEN (Tipperary, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received any representations from Ireland as to vexatious prosecutions 45 against persons found walking with their bicycles after dark; whether he is aware that several such prosecutions leading to convictions have taken place at Roscrea, County Tipperary, recently; and if he will take any steps to prevent a repetition of such cases.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I would refer to my Answer to the Question put by the hon. Member for the Ramsey division on 26th May, front which it will be seen that, under a strict interpretation of the law applying to Ireland, a bicycle which is upon a public road at night requires to be lighted whether it is being ridden or not. I am informed that some prosecutions for wheeling unlighted bicycles at night have taken place at Roscrea, but it is not intended to institute such prosecutions in future unless the police are satisfied that more than a mere technical breach of the law has occurred.