§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Irish Government are aware that the Emergency men quartered on Clare Island (county Mayo) are in the habit of obtaining and consuming liquor at a public-house on Sundays, in contravention of the Sunday Closing Act, without any notice being taken of the practice by the police; whether the resulting intoxication has recently led to several disorderly and dangerous acts, one being the discharge of a revolver, by an Emergency man, at a dog, to the peril of the owner of the dog, who was 273 standing by at the moment, and another being "a stand-up fight," in the presence of a number of persons, between an Emergency man and a policeman; whether the police have information that the Emergency men are suspected of plundering hen-roosts by night; and, what steps will be taken to deal with the circumstances stated, and also with the fact that these Emergency men are in the habit of carrying and displaying firearms?
MR. CAMPBELL-BANNEBMANIn The Western People newspaper of the 21st ultimo, there were published an anonymous letter and a leading article which taken together contained all the specific charges against the police and Emergency men in Clare Island which are included in this Question. Inquiry was at once made by the police authorities with the result that there was shown to be no foundation for the charges, with the exception that it did appear that one of the Emergency men some time ago fired his revolver at a dog which had been sent to drive away some sheep that he was taking to the pound; but it is not true that the owner of the dog was near, or in any danger. The man was cautioned as to the use he made of his revolver; and with this exception it did not appear that there had been any display of their fire-arms by the Emergency men, who are reported to be well-conducted.