§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a case at Clones Petty Sessions against Mr. H. W. Given for using a motor car without a rear light at 7.50 p.m. on 18th February, which had been adjourned from a previous Court as the bench had been equally divided; whether he is aware that, at the second hearing, one of the magistrates on the bench demanded that the case should be withdrawn, and that when the officer in charge of the case stated that he could not take upon himself the responsibility of withdrawing it unless requested 850W to do so by all the magistrates who heard it, the magistrate in question refused to put it to the bench but proceeded to suggest that the officer was proving the case in a peculiar fashion and taking a most improper course; whether it is the practice that direction for the withdrawal of prosecutions are acted on when made by all the members of the bench; and can he now say what action it is proposed to take in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been called to this case, and the facts appear to be correctly stated in the question. It is not the practice that directions for the withdrawal of prosecutions are acted on when made by all the members of the bench, but as this case is one of no public importance, and has been heard twice, it is intended to give directions to the police not to proceed further with the prosecution.