asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that, in the case of James Healion, Sragh, Tullamore, applicant, versus King's County Council, respondents, a decree was awarded to applicant by the County Court Judge for £61 10s., including costs and expenses, on the 29th May, 1920, which decree was appealed to by the County Council, the appeal being heard at the Assizes on the 1st July, 1920, same being affirmed and the amount increased to £168 0s. 11d., including costs; furthermore, that the decree was duly lodged with the County Council for collection and payment in the ordinary way, the decree being destroyed with others in the burning of Tullamore Courthouse, in July, 1922, a declaration as to its existence and destruction having been filed in the Ministry of Finance and that the claim has not yet been paid, can he state when it will be paid?
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - A TULLAMORE DECREE.
Defended decrees for damage to property sustained within the pre-Truce period are dealt with for payment as far as possible according to priority of the date of damage. In the case referred to by the Deputy the damage occurred in May, 1920, and the full amount of the decree would have been paid in the ordinary course some weeks ago but for the exceptional difficulty experienced in establishing the fact of defence. This difficulty was due to the destruction of the County Court Records when the Tullamore Court House was burnt, but has now been overcome. It is hoped to include the decree in a schedule of cases to be advertised for payment towards the end of the present month and to complete payment at a very early date after publication.