§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the late clerk of Petty Sessions at Malin, North Donegal, absconded; whether he will direct an audit of the 870 accounts and a sworn inquiry to be held immediately into all the circumstances connected with his absconding; and whether he is aware that the alleged newly appointed clerk is a brother-in-law of the late clerk.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am informed that the Petty Sessions clerk referred to has resigned and left the country. His accounts have already been examined, and there is no deficit upon them; on the contrary, a small balance is payable to the late clerk. The gentleman who has been elected by the magistrates is brother-in-law of the late clerk, but the election has not yet been approved.
§ MR. O'DOHERTYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the fact that at the election of Petty Sessions clerk held at Malin, North Donegal, on. the 18th instant, one of the magistrates, named Robert Scott, who voted for Mr. Mundell, one of the candidates, had been appointed to the commission of the peace only a week or two before the election, and when the election was pending; that he had not been a magistrate when the vacancy occurred; that he received no notice of the said election; and whether such a vote is invalid and election void.
§ MR. BIRRELLObjection has been taken to the votes recorded by Mr. R. Scott, and certain other magistrates at the election of the Petty Sessions clerk referred to, and the matter is being investigated. In the meantime, the Lord-Lieutenant's approval of the election will be withheld.