HC Deb 23 May 1887 vol 315 cc890-1
DR. TANNER(for Mr. FINUCANE) (Limerick, E.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that on the night of the 29th of last March two policemen, who are on protection duty in Limerick in an evicted farm of Major Hares, Chester, entered the house of Mrs. Ryan, of Cloonlusk, Doon, County Limerick, in a state of intoxication, and after abuse of herself and family broke her windows; if Mrs. Ryan and her son followed the policemen to their barrack, and found both so helplessly drunk that she believes they mistook her house for their barrack; if Mrs. Ryan reported the occurrence to District Inspector Dunne, Newpallas; and, if the Constabulary Authorities have ordered an investigation; and, if not, will the Government direct them to do so?

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

(who replied) said: The only foundation for this Question appeared to be that Mrs. Ryan reported at the police station that about 10 o'clock on that night she heard a knocking at the window, and that a small pane of glass was broken. She got up, and she alleged she saw two policemen at the window, and she subsequently pointed them out in the barracks. She also alleged they were not sober, though she declined to say that they were drunk. Several witnesses declared that these policemen were sober both when they left and returned to their quarters that night. The Inspector General had instituted a further inquiry into the ease.

DR. KENNY (Cork, S.)

asked, whether the witnesses who declared the policemen to be sober were policemen themselves?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

They probably were. I cannot say.