§ MR. JAMES O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether there is any magistrate residing in the Rooskey, County Roscommon, Petty Sessions District who attends the Court at Rooskey; whether the police and other persons who require the services of a magistrate have to travel seven miles from the court-house to the nearest magistrate; whether on several occasions for the last three years, there have been cases on the books for three or four months which could not be disposed of for want of a magistrate with the resident magistrate; whether the resident magistrate resides twenty-five miles from Rooskey; and whether the Lord Chancellor will appoint a magistrate for Rooskey.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that cases for hearing at Rooskey Petty Sessions have 32 frequently had to be adjourned for the attendance of a second justice, the nearest magistrate who attends the Petty Sessions living five miles away. I understand that the Lord Chancellor is taking steps to appoint a new magistrate for the district.