119. Mr. KELLYasked the Chief Secretary on what grounds the Local Government Board for Ireland considered that the age record of Hugh M'Menamin (Appeal No. N.B. 308, Letterkenny subcommittee), as given in the Census of 1851, was more reliable than the evidence before the constabulary authorities in 1866, and the other evidence which convinced the sub-committee as to this applicant's age; whether he is aware that the Census records of 1851 are notoriously untrustworthy, and have repeatedly been rejected by the Local Government Board as evidence; and, in view of all the circumstances of the case, will he urge the Local Government Board to send an inspector to inquire into the case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Census Return of 1851 gave the claimant's age on that date as six and a half years precisely, and in the opinion of the Local Government Hoard this evidence must prevail over that of the constabulary record, the date of which is some fifteen years later. The Board have already decided the case, and 716 can, therefore, take no further action on the claim.