asked the Minister for Justice if he will state (a) if he is aware that Leo Joseph Fitzgerald was arrested in Dublin during last general election for personation; that he was sentenced to imprisonment and fined in the District Court for this offence; that he appealed to the Circuit Judge who reheard the case and affirmed the order of imprisonment and fine; that he appealed further to two High Court judges who also affirmed the conviction, fine and imprisonment; (b) if the term of imprisonment so affirmed has been served; (c) if not, by whom and in virtue of what authority has any remission been made; (d) by whom was such remission signed; (e) the grounds of such remission; (f) if any report upon the case was sought from any of the judges concerned before the remission was made, and (g) if so, what was the nature of the report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remission of Sentence for Personation.
The reply to part (a) is in the affirmative. As regards part (b) the sentence of imprisonment for a period of two months was reduced, in exercise of the prerogative of mercy, to one month which was duly served. As regards the other parts of the question I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question by him on the 22nd February last in the case of Thomas Mitchell where the facts were similar.