MR. POWELL-WILLIAMS (Birmingham, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 'Whether it is true, as stated in the public Press, that about noon on the 13th instant three armed and disguised men entered the National School at Lackfoodra, and in the presence of the school children, having compelled the schoolmaster, Patrick Robinson, and his daughters to go down on their knees first, fired a shot from a pistol over the head of the older daughter, and then shot Robinson himself in the groin, inflicting a serious wound; whether, if the facts are as stated, he can inform the House what was the motive of the crime; and, whether the offenders are likely to be brought to justice?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: It is the case that three armed men, one of them disguised, entered the National Schoolhouse on the occasion 1428 referred to. They ordered Mr. Robinson and his two daughters to go on their knees, which they accordingly did. The disguised man then presented the pistol at the face of one of the daughters. He endeavoured to fire it three or four times, but it missed. He snapped it again, when the shot went off, grazing the girl's face. He then took a gun from one of the other men, and discharged the contents at Mr. Robinson, striking him on the lower part of the abdomen, which is riddled with shot. They then left. The police have not yet ascertained the motive. They are making every effort to identify the perpetrators of the outrage.