
That when in any Action pending in the Superior Courts in Ireland for a Libel contained in any public Newspaper or other periodical Publication the Defendant shall plead the Matters allowed to be pleaded by the said first-mentioned Act, and shall on filing such Plea pay Money into Court as provided by such Act, such Payment into Court shall be of the same Effect, and be available in the same Manner and to the same Extent, and be subject to the same Rules and Regulations now in force or hereafter to be made as to Payment of Costs and the Form of Pleading, except so far as regards the pleading of the additional Facts so required to be pleaded by such Defendant, as if Actions for Libel had not been excepted from the personal Actions in which it is lawful to pay Money into Court under the said recited Act of the Third and Fourth Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty.
II 
And be it declared and enacted, That it shall not be competent to any Defendant in such Action, whether in England or in Ireland, to file any such Plea, without at the same Time making a Payment of Money into Court by way of Amends as provided by said Act, But every such Plea so filed without Payment of Money into Court shall be deemed a Nullity, and may be treated as such by the Plaintiff in the Action.