HC Deb 12 June 1882 vol 270 cc817-8
MR. W. J. CORBET

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, "Whether it is true that a number of policemen have been placed with caretakers of several vacant farms from which the tenants were evicted in the parishes of Blackditches and Hollywood, county Wicklow, on the property of the Marquess of Waterford; whether it is the fact that no outrage of any kind has occurred in those districts, or in the whole county, during the land agitation; and whether, under the circumstances, the local police are not sufficient to afford protection if any is required; how many extra police are engaged in the duty, and who pays for them; and, whether, looking to the peaceful state of the county, he will order the extra police to be withdrawn?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, there are four protection posts on Lord Water-ford's property in the County Wicklow. There have been 45 outrages in that district since the 1st of January, 1880, attributable to the land agitation, and over 100 such outrages in the county, which is very peaceable in other respects than in agrarian crime. Twelve men of the constabulary are engaged in this protection duty. They are paid for in part by the Government, and in part by the county. Owing to the prevalence of intimidation and "Boycotting," the local authorities—magistrates and constabu- lary—are of opinion that isolated caretakers on evicted farms would not be safe; and I cannot, therefore, order the withdrawal of the extra police.