HC Deb 07 May 1888 vol 325 cc1476-7
MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he had seen the following paragraph in The Daily News of Tuesday, 1st May:— A collision occurred in Limerick on Sunday night between civilians and some men of the Derbyshire Regiment. The soldiers have been confined for some time past, but a dozen of them broke out and paraded with belts in hand. A crowd quickly surrounded them, and some stones were thrown. The soldiers were taken back to barracks by the police. A collision also occurred at Clare Castle, near Ennis, between the Militia now in training and the Derbyshires. One Militiaman was badly injured. Several arrests have been made; whether this is the same regiment that sang Rule Britannia going through the streets of Ennis while the people were at Mass, on the occasion of the late suppression of a public meeting in that town; how often have the men of this regiment come into collision with the people of Limerick and Clare; and, whether, having regard to their general conduct, he will have them removed to other quarters?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)

The Derbyshire Regiment is the regiment which sang Rule Britannia as it marched through Ennis. The inhabitants of Limerick are reported to have come into collision with men of the regiment on nine occasions, and those of Clare on six. As far as appears, the assaults on the soldiers were unprovoked. The corps is well-behaved generally; and I do not see that the fact of its men having been assaulted constitutes a reason for disturbing the military arrangements by its removal to other quarters.

MR. J. O'CONNOR

I desire to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, a Question arising out of this case. Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why two Resident Magistrates—Major Warburton and Major Rolleston—were imported into Limerick to try the cases arising out of these assaults?

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

I can give no special reasons to the hon. Gentleman. I suppose it is in the ordinary course.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I would ask whether there is any rotation?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There is a certain principle adopted, I believe.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Would it be possible to give the House some indication of what the principle is?

[No reply.]

MR. J. O'CONNOR

I wish to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he has seen a report in the newspapers that another collision between the police and the military has occurred in Limerick?

MR. E. STANHOPE

No, Sir; I have not.