, 1873-06-03
THE GREAT IRISH L1BELgu1T.

| Tho Atlantic cable fow tlaya ago statod thai
IN tho llbol-autt Of 0'Kooifo against Oardina
Cullen III tho Irish courts, tho plaintiff had OBJ,
tatnod a verdict Of ono farthing da,nagos. Thia
caso has bocomo somewhat conspicuous because
or tho construction Of tho law with respect CO.
clcainstioal Jurisdiction, md also because Of the
aomeWhat remarkable caroor of tho plaintiff,
The London correspondent Of tho Now York
Times gives history Of tho case and tho parties.
Fathor oKoofrc is tho parish priest Of Oallan, is
e2 years Of ago, and according to tho correspond
Ont, GLIB, o1ovor, energetic, aud exceedingly
detotminods altogether very awkward customer
for other Bishop or Archbishop to med
dlo with who was not quito suro that
no had tho law On bis stdc." In 1868, he
WAS mhdo parish priost OF Cal1an, and year or
two lator, with ylew to improve the educs-
tiona1 facilities Of bis parish, negotiated tor tho
establishment OF school for girls, to be con.
Quoted BY siators Of m order from Franoo The
Bishop Of tho diocese, aftor endcavoring to dis
Ruado o'Kooffo from this achornc, xofusod To
sanction 1t, and, unfortunately for him, In OK
planning liB conduct, Haid TINT O'Keeffc WAS not
tit man to have control Of such ali ostabllsh-
mont. For this o'Koofro brought an action Of
libel, which was eventually compromised, tho
Bishop paying 1000, nomina1ly to dofray tho
plaintiffs legal expenses. Soon after this.
priest named Neary appeared in tho parish, and
ho., and o'Kesftc Ind q high scason Of mutual
elandare. While absent ono Bunday, hia own
ourntos took occasion to denounco him; be no.
ousod tho Bishop as tho tnBtigator Of this, and
sued him aud ono Of tho ouratos for ubol.
Ro Lost tho . oaao against tho Bishop,
his costs reaching E2oo, but ho nado this
up BY recovering E22o from the curate.
Before tho trial Of these cases, tho controversy
Was submitted to tho anthorltioB ut Rome, who
decided against O'Kooffe who, however, refused
to acoopt tho deciaion. Finally, tho Bishop sua.
pended him, which suspension, by special au-
thority from Romo. Cardinal Cullen confirmed.
For this last act ho brought suit in tic Court OF
Queens Bcnch against tho Cardinal Tho de-
fendant pleaded tho obligation of priest not |
10 purRuo another in d civil court. This ploa !
VAS ovorruled, tho Chiof Justice holding that It |
Taa Illegal, no ctizon having tho power to
contract himself out Of protection Of tho law
'ho other thrco Judges holding that tho rulo,
hough not illegal, could not oust tho iurisaic-
ion OF tho courts. Another plea wae, that
hc publication OF tho Papnl rcscript waa
Privileged. Thia waa oyorrulod by tho
COURT, us the Pope had no legal jurts-
LECTION In tho country. Tho plaintiff
vas examined md oroas~oxaminod, and, per-
apf, did himself more injury than good. He
'aa abusing and calumniating of all who had
ifforod from him. Tho Jury probably found
hat there wns q technical ubal, but measured
10 mcr4ta OF tho caao by tho sum awarded In
amagos. Tho case has attracted grcat atton-
lon in England, where II has been discussed
thoroughly in tha a'newsp4pers. Tho only points
law determined arc, that, though q man be-
oming an occloalaatio may contract not to ro- !
ort to tho civil courts against his Supporters or
asociatoa In tho Church., ho Ia not barrod BY
lat contract from 80 doing II he thinks proper,
I'd that an official publication, made in duo |
'urne Of ecclesiastical government, is not q
;iyileged communication, and, II 1ibellous ii {
'tionablo. This is complete subordination s
Church authority to tho execution Of the !
Wa.