§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY (on behalf of Mr. Lardner)asked the Attorney-General for Ireland if he was aware that a certain William M'Dowell was brought before the Clogher petty sessions on 9th March last on four summonses charging him with certain offences in reference to 10 females named in the summonses, and that in the first case heard only one witness was examined, and in the second case heard two witnesses were examined, and that the magistrates dismissed these two cases, although there were other witnesses in court who might have been examined and were not, and that District-Inspector Patrick, in view of these decisions, declined to go on with the other two summonses; would he state the names of the magistrates adjudicating in these cases, and whether the decisions were unanimous or by a majority, and, in the latter case, give the names of the magistrates voting for a dismissal, or against, or who declined to vote; and would he now state what further steps, if any, he proposes to take in these cases?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Cherry)I am informed that four summonses were issued against William M'Dowell, as stated in the question, charging him with the offences referred to. Two of these were heard by the magistrates at the Clogher Petty Sessions on 9th March last, and dismissed by a majority of the magistrates present. The reason the magistrates did not hear the evidence of more witnesses was because they were informed that it would not throw any more light upon the question, and would be precisely similar to the evidence already given. I regret that I cannot give the names of the magistrates present or of those who decided in any particular way, as I am informed that no regular poll was taken and that there is no record of the names of the magistrates who took part in the decisions. I do not propose to take any further steps in the cases.