HC Deb 09 June 1887 vol 315 cc1438-9
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

wished to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a Question, of which he had been unable to give the right hon. Gentleman private Notice. He desired to ask the right hon. Gentleman had his attention been called to a statement in The Pall Mall Gazette of that evening, with reference to the evictions which were being carried on at Bodyke, and which was as follows:— It is true that Pat Walsh's mother, of 80, was bludgeoned in his house as she sat in her chair by a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who formed one of the volunteer storming party, and she has at this moment the marks of the baton in the shape of a bad black eye. [Laughter.] Some hon. Members might laugh; but he regarded the matter as too serious for laughter. The report continued— She (Mrs. Walsh) is bedridden, and was lifted up by her daughter-in-law to be evicted, and the two blue bruises above and below her left eye upon her poor old wrinkled face, form the most pitiable sight imaginable. While her eon was led off to gaol in handcuffs, she sat in a chair on the road wailing and rocking her wounded and aching head backwards and forwards in her hands. He wished to ask the Chief Secretary, Whether he would take immediate steps to punish the constable for his brutal conduct, and prevent any recurrence of such a state of things?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I know nothing about the attack alleged to have taken place, nor have I seen The Pall Mall Gazette of to-day; but I am sorry to say that scenes have taken place, in the course of the resistance to the police at Bodyke, of a most disgraceful character.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary a Question of which, unfortunately, I have not been able to give him Notice, Whether it is true that the police at Bodyke have acted as baliffs and been the first to enter the houses, instead of the officers of the Sheriff; and, whether it is true, as we have frequently been assured, that no such conduct will be tolerated; and whether, if this statement be true, the Chief Secretary will take immediate steps to prevent a repetition of such illegal action?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have no doubt, Sir, that if the police went into the houses in consequence of these houses being illegally defended, they acted in accordance with their duty.