§ 24. Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether his attention has been directed to the alleged statement that His Honour Judge Bodkin, K.C., in his address at Quarter Sessions in Ennis to the Grand Jury, suggested the formation of vigilance committees for the purpose of the punishment of crime and outrage without recourse to any legal proceedings; and whether he proposes to take any action upon this suggestion of the learned judge?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a question on the same subject asked by the hon. and gallant Member for East Down on the 30th January. That reply has been inaccurately reported in the newspapers so as to make it appear that the learned judge had suggested the establishment of vigilance committees in Clare. He not only did nothing of the kind, but he disclaimed the intention of making any such suggestion. The OFFICIAL REPORT shows that my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary did not attribute the suggestion to the learned judge.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I put down 18 that question for the purpose of clearing the hon. judge of the imputation which was cast upon him by this report?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI have no doubt of the hon. Gentleman's good intentions.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLMr. Speaker, is it worth while noticing that. question? Did you hear the accusation? I was accused of being a job-hunter.