HC Deb 03 July 1882 vol 271 cc1247-8
MR. LONG

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is the fact that police protection had been lately withdrawn from Patrick Cahill, a caretaker, on a Boycotted farm at Ashill, near Tralee, whose murder was reported in the journals of the 29th June?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the facts are these. On the 13th of June Patrick Cahill reported that he had been fired at by a person whom he swore at the time to be John Brosnan. Brosnan was arrested; but thereupon Cahill swore he was not the man. For several days after this two sub-constables were sent to be with Cahill wherever he went for his protection; but he resented this arrangement, and stated that if protection were forced on him he would leave his employment. The men were accordingly withdrawn; but patrols were frequently sent near his house at night without his knowledge. On the evening of the 27th of June he was shot dead on his way home from work. He possessed a revolver, for which the Resident Magistrate gave him a licence; but, so little does he appear to have apprehended danger, he did not carry it with him on the day of his murder.