§ 55. Mr. GINNELLasked the Attorney-General for Ireland if he will specify the alleged illegality or breach of duty as a magistrate for which the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has deprived of his statutory commission of the peace Mr. James O'Shea, member of the Kerry County Council, chairman of the Killarney Rural District Council and, in virtue of this position, a magistrate for the county of Kerry; what evidence was given; by whom; what opportunity was given to Mr. O'Shea for cross-examining the informer; and under what statute the Lord Chancellor purports to override the provision on this subject in the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)Complaints were received by the Lord Chancellor that Mr. James O'Shea, J.P., was one of a party which interfered with a recruiting meeting at Killarney on 6th February last, and an explanation of his conduct was thereupon requested. The Lord Chancellor not being satisfied with the explanation of Mr. O'Shea, and considering that such conduct was incompatible with Mr. O'Shea's position as a Justice of the Peace, caused a writ of supersedeas to be issued under the provisions of Section 95 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question: What opportunity was given to Mr. O'Shea to cross-examine the informer?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir, I do not think that any opportunity was given him to cross-examine anybody. He was asked by the Lord Chancellor to give an explanation. He furnished it, and the Lord Chancellor thought that it was not satisfactory.