§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he has seen the reports in the Cork papers of the 9th instant of a summons for trespass brought by Mr. John Galwey against Mr. John Devane Charleville, County Cork, from which it appears that the summons was dismissed by the Magistrates; is he aware that on the day following the trial, John Galwey went to the field (which was the subject of the summons) accompanied by two police constables armed with revolvers, and assaulted a mason engaged in 1328 putting up a gate; and, is he aware that the said John Galwey goes about, accompanied by two armed policemen; and, if so, what is the reason alleged for this protection?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that the newspaper report referred to is not accurate, but merely a very imperfect summary of the proceedings. Mr. Galwey summoned Mr. Devane for trespass on a field which he claims as his property, but his right to which is disputed on behalf of the townspeople of Charleville. A bonâ fide question of title having arisen, the Magistrates marked the case "no jurisdiction." They did not dismiss it in the sense suggested in the question. The police report that it is not a fact that on the next day Galwey assaulted a mason who was engaged in putting up a gate, but that he put his hand on the gate post and threatened to pull it down. He was accompanied by two policemen, one of whom had a revolver. Mr. Galwey is thus protected when he goes to this field—but not on other occasions.
§ MR. FLYNNIs this man Galwey entitled to police protection, and to be escorted by armed policemen, when engaged on the assertion of a private claim?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot lay down a general proposition of that character, but it is part of the duty off the police to see that the peace is preserved if they are of opinion that a breach of it is threatened.
§ In reply to a further question by Mr. FLYNN,
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid: I can pronounce no opinion as to the rights of the different parties; I have no opinion.