asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that Edmond O'Reilly, Goolds Cross, County Tipperary, was returned for trial in custody by the District Court on the 29th January, 1927, to the Central Criminal Court which opened on the 8th of February, 1927, in connection with the murder of Guard Hugh Ward, at Hollyford, on the 14th of November, 1926, and, if so, if he will state whether it is the intention to have the case tried at the present sitting of the Court, and, if not, if he will state when it is proposed to have the case dealt with.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MURDER OF A GARDA.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
I understand that owing to the large number of cases set down for hearing at the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court it will not be possible for the trial of Edmond O'Reilly to be reached. It will, however, be heard at the next sitting.
Will the Minister say when the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court will be held? Does the Minister consider that an important charge such as this—a major charge— should be put back in order to make room, so to speak, for minor charges? Does he not consider that this is in a different category from cases that have been returned for trial on bail, and that are before the court at the moment? When will this case be tried?
The date of the next sitting has not yet been fixed. On the other question, I would not like to offer an opinion. The office of the Chief State Solicitor arranges the order in which State prosecutions will be taken.
The Minister will surely agree that it is unfair that there should be such considerable delay in dealing with a case like this. Is the Minister aware that this man has been in prison since the end of last year?
He was returned for trial in custody, as the question states, by the District Court on 29th January last.