HC Deb 21 February 1890 vol 341 cc886-7
MR. T.M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the fact that, on the 29th June and 15th August last, two holidays in the Catholic Church, the Catholic constables under the orders of Sergeant Clare (station sergeant at Kevin Street in the Dublin Metropolitan Police) were prevented from hearing mass, being at an early hour taken to the Phœnix Park and drilled there?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I answered this question yesterday, but I will repeat what I said. It is not the fact that Catholic constables were prevented from hearing mass by being taken at an early hour to the Phœnix Park.

MR. M. HEALY

The answer of the right hon. Gentleman is that it was not so. My informant says that it was, and in face of this conflict of testimony will the right hon. Gentleman afford facilities for a Departmental inquiry?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am informed that mass was celebrated as early as 6.30 a.m. at a Catholic chapel within a few minutes' walk of the barracks, so that there was ample time for Catholic constables to have attended if they had been so disposed.

MR. M. HEALY

Did the men receive information that if they did not attend mass at 6.30 a.m. in the morning they could not attend at all?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not aware.