HC Deb 20 March 1917 vol 91 c1748W
Mr. FLAVIN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that at a Session Court held at Listowel last week before Mr. H. R. Jones, R.M., two local magistrates, namely, Mr. T. Keane, J.P., chairman, Listowel Rural Council, and Mr. John Boland, J.P., a member of the Kerry County Council, were not allowed to adjudicate in the case specially before the Court; whether Mr. Molloy, the district inspector, objected to Messrs. Keane and Boland hearing the evidence in the ease, and also stated that the case was to be tried only before the resident magistrate; and whether the police authorities at Listowel are acting on instructions from the Chief Secretary, and also in the interest of peace and good feeling in the district, by refusing to allow local magistrates to adjudicate in this case?

Mr. DUKE

Eight men were arrested and brought before the resident magistrate at Listowel on the 3rd instant, charged with riot and unlawful assembly, and remanded on bail to the 7th instant. I am informed that two local magistrates expressed a wish to adjudicate, but that as the resident magistrate had seisin of the case he had jurisdiction to hold to bail. I did not interfere in the case.