§ Mr. NEWMANasked whether a number of prosecutions for criminal offences from the county of Clare were heard and disposed of at the recent Cork Winter Assizes, and that Assizes were simultaneously held in the city of Limerick; whether he can state why the onus of trying the above cases was placed on the jurors of the city of Cork and not, as heretofore, on the jurors of the city of Limerick; and whether the Government were advised that a fair trial could not be obtained in the latter town?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Munster Winter Assizes, including the Assize for Clare, which forms part of Munster, were this year held in Cork. The Connaught Winter Assizes were held in Limerick. There is no fixed rule as to the place of holding Winter Assizes or as to the counties to be included therein. They are varied from time to time, and no imputation whatever is conveyed as to the impartiality of juries by such variation.