HC Deb 06 September 1886 vol 308 cc1325-6
MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is a fact that one of Her Majesty's gunboats is to be used for the purpose of conveying the sheriff, military, and police to the Calf Islands, Castle Island, and M'Carthy's Island, where evictions are to be carried out; and, whether it is a fact that the late Government of Her Majesty refused to send a gunboat to the Island of Skye for a similar purpose?

THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)

The gunboats on the West Coast of Ireland are frequently employed in conveying various officials to and from the Islands and various places on the Coast, there being no regular means of communication. As regards the special case referred to in the Question, the Vice Admiral at Queenstown reports that "he knows nothing of the movements reported, and has given no orders on the subject." In reference to the last Question relating to Skye, although a large force of Marines was sent there, there is no record at the Admiralty of any official request having been made for a gunboat for that purpose.