§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain and state the amount of compensation for malicious injuries awarded against the ratepayers in each county and borough in Ireland in each year during the last 10 years, and the totals, in non-riotous cases, such as would give no right to the recovery of compensation from ratepayers in England; whether the court gets the assistance of a jury or of a competent valuer in measuring compensation when the alleged injury is slight, sentimental, or incapable of exact measurement; and, if not, by what method is the claimant's estimate checked and the compensation determined?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe amount of compensation for malicious injuries awarded in each county and borough is shown in the Return of Proceedings in respect of claims for such injuries published annually in the Judicial Statistics of Ireland which are presented to Parliament. The information asked for with respect to non-riotous cases could not be obtained without imposing undue labour on the officials of the county courts. On an appeal from the county court the judge of Assize has power to empanel a jury to try any issue of fact, 457W but there is no special power to employ a valuer. The Court determines the amount of compensation on the evidence offered on both sides.