§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether ex-Head Constable Irvine was appointed to the position of station-master at Cork, on the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway; whether the following notice was posted up in Cork on the 12th August last—
Boycott the now line of railway unless ex-Head Constable Irving is removed from the position of station-master at Cork. Numbers of respectable citizens are walking the streets idle, and their families starving, while Irvine, who draws a large pension and owns considerable house property near St. Luke's, gets important employment from a Company got up expressly to benefit idle people from the country. Irvine was known as the most insulting bigot in the Force, and his conduct on the day of Father Keller's arrest called forth the condemnation of the Press;whether, since the posting up of the above notice, ex-Head Constable Irvine has been frequently subjected to annoyance in public; and, whether, in consequence, he has been obliged to resign his position as station-master?
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Before the right hon. and gallant Gentleman answers the Question, might I ask if it is not a fact that Head Constable Irvine, referred to in the Question, gave public notice that he had resigned his position on the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway on account of the long hours of duty—from early morning till late at night—hours which he had no reason to believe would form part of his duty when he accepted the position?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: No, Sir. I have no reason to believe that Head Constable Irvine made any such Report.
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANI have read some of the public papers, and have seen no such information. With regard to the Question of my hon. Friend, I am informed that ox-Head Constable Irvine, who was reported by the Inspector General of Constabulary to be a man of exemplary character, was, upon his recent retirement from the Force on pension, appointed to the position mentioned. Notices is the terms quoted were posted up in Cork on the night of the 12th of August. Following upon these notices, the ex-Head Constable was jeered at and otherwise interfered with when proceeding to and from his place of employment. In consequence of this he has resigned his position as station-master.