HC Deb 31 March 1913 vol 51 cc40-1
77. Major M'CALMONT

asked the Chief Secretary whether, on the recent death of the Crown Solicitor for county Londonderry, the Sessional Crown Solicitor for that county should have been appointed to the amalgamated offices of Crown Solicitor and Sessional Crown Solicitor in accordance with a Treasury Minute; and whether Dr. R. H. Todd, who had formerly held both offices in county Westmeath, was appointed Crown Solicitor for county Londonderry?

Mr. RUSSELL

On the resignation of the Crown Solicitor for the county and city of Londondery in November, 1911, Dr. R. H. Todd, who at one time held the offices of Crown and Sessional Crown Solicitor for county Westmeath, was appointed to the vacancy. There is no Treasury Minute such as suggested, but one of the recommendations of a Departmental Committee, approved by the Treasury, was that the offices of Crown and Sessional Crown Solicitor should be amalgamated, and this recommendation is, as a rule, acted on, but in the present instance it was not deemed desirable in the public interest to impose further duties on the Sessional Crown Solicitor.

Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are any other cases in which the recommendations of the Departmental Committee have not been followed?

Mr. RUSSELL

I think there have been cases in my own recollection. I cannot at the moment say where they were.

Captain CRAIG

Is it not a fact that in the cases referred to it was intended to give jobs to those who received the appointments?

78. Major M'CALMONT

asked the Chief Secretary whether Dr. R. H. Todd, now Crown Solicitor for county Londonderry, who prosecuted at the recent Ulster Winter Assizes, is the same gentleman who was formerly Sessional Crown Solicitor for county Westmeath; whether, in accordance with the Treasury Minute which lays down that the offices of Crown Solicitor and Sessional Crown Solicitor shall be amalgamated as opportunities arise, he was subsequently appointed Crown Solicitor for county Westmeath; and whether he resigned that office, under pressure from the Attorney-General, owing to the manner in which he carried out his duties?

Mr. RUSSELL

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. Dr. Todd, who held the office of Crown Solicitor for county Westmeath, was subsequently, on a vacancy occurring in the office of Sessional Crown Solicitor for same county, appointed to the united offices of Crown and Sessional Crown Solicitor. When holding these offices Dr. Todd was permitted to reside in Londonderry, and as he was unable to carry out his duties from that place to the satisfaction of Government, he resigned.

Captain CRAIG

Is this the gentleman who was the Crown Prosecutor in the cases arising out of the Castledawson outrages?

Mr. RUSSELL

Yes.

Major M'CALMONT

Is the reason given by the right hon. Gentleman the only one why this gentleman resigned the office?

Mr. RUSSELL

So far as I know.