HC Deb 16 June 1890 vol 345 cc1013-4
MR. DALTON

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has sanctioned the employment of the Forces of the Crown for the eviction of 46 families on the Stewart and Swineys estates, in the Falcarragh district of the County Donegal; whether any of the evictions have yet been carried out; whether he can state the total number of persons who will be rendered homeless by the eviction of these 46 families; whether this district is one comprised within the congested districts proposed to be dealt with by a Bill now before the House; whether any of these people have been the recipients within the past year of relief in the shape of seed potatoes; and whether, under all the circumstances of the case, and in view of the fact that eviction at this time of the year will deprive these families of the crops now in the ground, and thereby deprive them of their only means of subsistence during the coming winter, the Government propose to take any steps to avert the danger of famine to these people during the coining winter?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

With respect to the inquiries in paragraphs one and four, I beg to refer to my reply on these points to the question put on the subject by the hon. Member for South Donegal on the 9th inst. Up to June 14, 25 of these evictions had, I understand, been concluded, and it was expected that five more would have been carried out that day. The Report before me does not show the number of persons comprised in each family to be evicted. I am in formed that none of these people have been recipients during the past year of relief in the shape of seed potatoes, neither are there any crops planted on the farms from which they have been evicted, nor is there any reason to expect famine as suggested in the question.

In answer to a further question by Mr. DALTON,

MR. A.J. BALFOUR said

Protection has been applied for and granted in respect of the execution of eviction decrees in the case of certain tenants on the Olphert estate, where the Plan of Campaign is in operation. I am in formed that these tenants have not been the recipients of relief for their families, or of seed to crop their land in the last 12 months.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Is it true that an old woman of 80, who was unable to make her way outside, was treated with brutal violence?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have no Report that confirms that statement, but I shall be glad to inquire.