Northern Ireland

Jurisdiction Over Asylum – On This Day in 1924

Order by Chief Justice in Free State questioned by northern authorities

A map showing the Boundary Commission's proposed changes to the border, including areas marked for transfer to Northern Ireland and to the Free State
Disputes over jurisdiction were common in the early years of the border, as discussions took place about changes to the boundary of Northern Ireland
By Cormac Moore
September 9 1924

At the monthly meeting of Armagh Asylum Board yesterday, Mr TA Montgomery JP (chairman) presiding, a letter was read from the Ministry of Home Affairs stating that a case had been recently brought to their notice where a person from Northern Ireland was transferred from one asylum to another on an order made by the Chief Justice of the Irish Free State.

As the Chief Justice of the Irish Free State had no jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, no order made by him or any judicial officer of the Irish Free State affecting any person belonging to Northern Ireland and in an asylum in Northern Ireland was to be acted upon, nor was any officer of the Free State to be allowed to visit or inspect any patient in an asylum in Northern Ireland unless such visit had been previously authorised by the Ministry of Home Affairs. If any such order was received it should be forwarded to the ministry for instructions.

Dr GR Lawless, resident medical superintendent, said they had a man who was sent to Armagh under the authority of the Lord Chief Justice of the Free State, and they had a visitor every year on behalf of the Lord Chancellor regarding certain patients under his jurisdiction.

The Chairman – You can refer the whole thing in future to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Since the establishment of Northern Ireland three years previously, its government ministers actively sought to separate the north from all political and legal connections to the south.

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Hurling Only Found in Antrim

Mr BC Fay, president, occupied the chair of the Ulster Provincial Council, GAA, held at Conlon’s Hotel, Clones, on Saturday.

Regarding hurling, Mr Clear (Belfast) said that County Antrim seemed the only county in Ulster that propagated that form of sport.

If the Civic Guard was taken out of the other hurling teams in Ulster, there would not be three players left. Outside Belfast and Co Antrim there were only a few hurlers to be found, and that in County Donegal.

Antrim’s dominance in hurling in Ulster has continued ever since, winning almost all senior championships when they were held. Although Antrim has reached two finals, in 1943 and 1989, no team from Ulster has won the All-Ireland senior hurling championship to date.