HC Deb 14 July 1870 vol 203 c243
MR. G. BROWNE

said, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, having regard to the present peaceable state of the County Mayo, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to relieve the people of that County from the expense of maintaining an extra police force?

MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE

, in reply, said, that in the month of March, a large number of the magistrates of the county Mayo met together, and unanimously agreed to apply to the Government for an increase of the constabulary force under the powers which they possessed by statute. Many of them wished for a larger force; but they were unanimous in asking for 150, one-half only of which could by law be charged to the county. The Inspector General of Constabulary had not been able to supply more than 116. The state of the county Mayo had very much improved since March; but it would be quite premature at present to decide on any withdrawal of that force.