HC Deb 13 June 1887 vol 315 cc1740-2
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has inquired into the facts described in the following paragraph from The Fail, Mall Gazette of the 9th instant:— It is true Pat Walsh's mother of SO 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 his baton in the shape of a bad black eye; and, whether the above statements are accurate; and, if so, whether he will take immediate steps to punish the conduct of the constable in question, and to prevent similar occurrences in future?

SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT (Sussex. N.W.)

Before the right hon. and gallant Gentleman answers the Question, I should like to ask him whether it is true that, in certain cases, women have thrown scalding meal, boiling water, and even vitriol on the emergency men and policemen who were there only doing their duty in carrying out the law; and, what steps are going to be taken with regard to Michael Davitt, who has instigated them to commit such dastardly outrages?

MR. CONYBEARE

Arising out of that Question, I wish to ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman whether there is any allegation that this old lady of 80 years threw scalding meal, or anything else?

THE PARLIAMENTAEY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said: With reference to the first Question, I have to say that there is no truth whatever in the allegation that Mrs. Walsh was bludgeoned by a policeman. In regard to the Question of my hon. and gallant Friend, it is true that in several cases scalding meal and boiling water have been thrown both on the bailiffs and the constabulary who have been engaged in the eviction cases at Bodyke. A case of vitriol throwing has been reported; but we have no statement as to any person having been injured by it. The Government are carefully noting the proceedings of those persons who have been especially prominent in the recent disturbances, and of those who have been the instigators to riot and to breaches of the law.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has made a very serious statement. I ask him for his authority in stating that a case of vitriol-throwing has been reported? That is a statement which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman should not make except he is prepared to state to the House, in the first instance, the ground on which he makes the charge.

MR. M. J. KENNY (Tyrone, Mid)

I wish also to ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman on what authority he states that Mrs. Walsh was not bludgeoned by the police? She was seen half-an-hour afterwards with a black eye, which she received from a policeman.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

I have no knowledge as to whether the lady received a black eye or received any injury—all I know is that she was not bludgeoned by the police——

MR. M. J. KENNY

Certainly she was.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

The information comes from Sir Redvers Buller, who received it from the ordinary sources of information. With regard to the question of vitriol-throwing, the information comes by telegraph from the Resident Magistrate in charge at Bodyke, Colonel Turner.

MR. DILLON

Does the magistrate state that vitriol was thrown?

COLONEL KING - HARMAN

The words came—"Vitriol was thrown."