HC Deb 12 June 1884 vol 289 cc77-9
MR. HENRY THOMSON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Thomson, M.P. for Newry, at the request of the Orangemen, apprised the resident magistrate in charge of Newry on Sunday the 8th inst., that they, the Orangemen, apprehended that, in the excitement of returning from the Nationalist meeting, there might be some attack on, or disturbance in the neighbourhood of, the Orange Hall, and requested a force of police to be sent for its protection; whether the resident magistrates then undertook to Mr. Thomson that he might depend upon the Hall being protected; whether the police remained for some time at the Hall, but withdrew immediately before the return of the procession; whether there were any police protecting the Hall at the time the procession passed; whether several stones were thrown into the Hall; and, whether the police removed them? He would add, in explanation of the Question, that it was at the request of the resident magistrate he went to the Orangemen. He returned from the Orangemen, and told the resident magistrate that the Orangemen would do all in their power to support the law.

MR. TREVELYAN

I was going to state to the House what the hon. Member himself has stated. The Resident Magistrate telegraphs to me that what occurred was as follows:—Mr. Thomson gave him distinctly to understand that there would be no disturbance on the part of the Orangemen; and, on his opinion being asked, in the presence of three Resident Magistrates and some Constabulary officers, he stated that the contingents from that side of the country, coming to and returning from the meeting, should be allowed to pass the Orange Hall, that being the shortest route. He was informed that a force would be placed for its protection when these contingents were returning from the meeting. That was done. Two hundred and fifty Infantry were stationed in the Court House adjoining, and were not removed throughout the day. Fifty Constabulary were also placed there, and remained until after the processionists had passed the Hall quietly on their way home. They were accompanied out of the town by some bands belonging to Newry, who subsequently returned by the same route. On their way out they had to pass the ends of two Protestant streets, where stone throwing began; and the police, who had been at the Hall, were brought up at once to the scene of this disturbance, which they quelled. Afterwards, they returned with the Newry bands to the Hall. It was then that the most serious disturbance appears to have occurred; and the police proved their presence on the spot by their behaviour, for some of them forced open the door of the Hall, and stopped the firing, while others compelled the processionists to remove from the scene. No doubt, life was thus saved, and much serious rioting prevented. I cannot make out that anyone was seriously hurt. Stones were thrown into the Hall, which were removed by the police. [Laughter, and, "Oh, oh!"] I suppose they took the stones out of the Hall, having ascertained that they were there. I do not at this moment understand the meaning of the Question.

MR. GIBSON

It was in evidence that they attacked the Hall.

MR. TREVELYAN

I presume the police who removed the stones would be willing to come forward and swear to it, as the matter is within the knowledge of the Resident Magistrate. The case of firing will be before the Bench, I believe, on the 18th of this month; and the evidence relating to what occurred will, no doubt, on that occasion be fully gone into.

MR. PARNELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has any information that two further arrests have been made of Orangemen who were in the Hall, on the charge of deliberately firing at the procession?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman, at the same time, explain how it is that, whereas, on Monday, he informed the House that On the procession approaching the Orange Hall several shots were fired out of the windows, and that this exasperated the National party, who retaliated by throwing stones, The Freeman's Journal of the same day states that stones were thrown by the Nationalist party at the Hall, and that the Orangemen retaliated by firing shots?

MR. TREVELYAN

In answer to the hon. Member for the City of Cork, I have not had the information of two fresh arrests. In answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Dublin, I may say the part I have taken in the matter has been to read to the House the Report from the County Inspector, and the telegraphic Report of the Resident Magistrate, in answer to a Question, and at the request of the hon. Member for Newry (Mr. Thomson). I am not responsible for any newspaper reports, though I am always very glad to refer those reports for observations to Dublin, as I have done in the case of the reports in The Times, on the request of an hon. Member, and as I have done on my own volition in regard to the report in The Daily Express. I shall be very glad to answer any Question put to me in the House after referring it to Dublin. I am inclined to think that the evidence that will be before the Bench on the 18th will bring this matter to light by persons who will give testimony on oath.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman make particular inquiry as to whether the report of the District Inspector is correct that the Orangemen made the first attack; or is The Freeman's Journal report the correct one?

MR. TREVELYAN

It will all come out.

MR. HENRY THOMSON

gave Notice that, on the earliest possible day, he would call attention to the conduct of the Government in reference to the proceedings at Newry, and also to the action of the police.