§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it the fact that, upon a Catholic school being opened at Annalitton, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, the parents of several Catholic children who attended, and who had hitherto been obliged to go to a Protestant school kept by an Orangeman, were visited by the police and asked to explain why their children were sent to a school of their own denomination?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The District Inspector of Constabulary reports that it is not the case that the parents of any of the Roman Catholic children who recently left the Annalitton National School—which, though taught by a Protestant, is a mixed school—have been visited by the police for the purpose mentioned in the Question.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIf I supply the right hon. Gentleman with the names of the parents so visited, will he make inquiry?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURCertainly, I shall be glad to make inquiries. I think that certain parents were visited; but, as far as I can make out, not with the object stated in the Question; but I will give the hon. and learned Gentleman all the information I have.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman state what was the object with which they were visited?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWhat I understand is this—that the Roman Catholic clergy objected to the National school, presumably on the ground that it was taught by a Protestant, and started a new school in the place, to which all the Roman Catholics went over, with the exception of three families who were in the employment of a Loyalist (Mr. H. Cuming). It was stated that Father Gaughran, C.C., was bringing pressure to bear on these three families to make them send their children to the new school, and it was on this subject the police made inquiry.