§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Why the Abbeyfeale meeting on Sunday week was suppressed, by what authority the police dispersed the weekly indoor meeting of the League on the same day, which had no relation whatever to the public meeting, and is it intended that a proclamation of an outdoor demonstration should extend to all indoor gatherings whether routine or otherwise in the same district?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe public meeting proposed to be held at Abbeyfeale was prohibited on the ground of apprehension that if held it would endanger the public peace and give rise to intimidation, there being a number of evicted and "Boycotted" farms in the locality. With regard to the suppression of the indoor meeting, what occurred was this; the Rev. Mr. Casey, being prevented from addressing the people in the street, adjourned to a house in the town, accompanied by a large crowd, who remained outside in the street while he and the members of the National League went upstairs, and were about to hold a meeting. The magistrates considered this an attempt to evade the prohibition contained in the Proclamation, and they therefore prevented it. I have, on a former occasion, stated that in matters of this kind some discretion must be left to magistrates on the spot charged with enforcing the terms of a Proclamation.
§ MR. SEXTONinvited the right hon. Gentleman to answer the second clause of the Question.
§ MR. TREVELYANIt is not intended, Sir; but some discretion must be left to the magistrates.