§ Sir A. SPROTasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on the 25th and 26th October last Quarter Sessions were being held at the Court House, Portlavighise, and that on the same days and at the same time, and within a stone's throw, Republican courts were being held openly and without hindrance at the town hall, and large numbers of cases were dealt with; that on the 22nd, 24th, and 26th instant other Republican courts were openly held in neighbouring districts at Rathdowney, Durrow, Monasterevan, and elsewhere, and that the sittings of these illegal courts are openly advertised and their doings reported in the local Sinn Fein papers; whether he receives reports from the police as to the intended and actual sittings of these courts; whether the police are instructed to prevent the holding of courts of which they have notice; and whether any persons have been prosecuted and punished for holding these illegal courts?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI only received notice of this question yesterday morning, and have been unable to obtain reports on the specific cases mentioned in the question. But as regards these courts generally, I would refer the hon. Baronet 655W to the reply given yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for West Derby (Sir R. Hall) by my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General.