HC Deb 18 March 1890 vol 342 cc1132-3
DR. TANNER (Cork, Mid)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that a labouring man named Cornelius Connor, who was engaged in distributing leaflets relative to the strike at Messrs. Perrott's ironworks, was arrested by Constable Brennan in Hanover Street, Cork, on Monday, 3rd March, and was bound over to keep the peace by Mr. Gardiner, R.M.; whether it is a fact that Messrs. O'Sullivan, Secretary of the Labour Union, and Whelar, Secretary to the strikers, distributed the same leaflets in the same place during the remainder of the evening in question without any interference from the police; and whether au inquiry will be made into the circumstances of the arrest and sentence on Connor?

MR. MADDEN

The Constabulary Authorities report that O'Connor was arrested for persisting in causing an obstruction in a public thoroughfare after being warned. He was brought before the Court which was then sitting, ordered to find bail, and having done so, was at once discharged. The other men referred to caused no obstruction and were not interfered with.

DR. TANNER

Was not O'Connor alone, and is it not true that he said nothing, and did nothing, beyond distributing the few leaflets in question? Also, is it not a fact that the other two men went and did what O'Connor had done in the same place, many times in the course of the same day?

MR. MADDEN

I gather that O'Connor was warned several times to desist from causing an obstruction in the public thoroughfare. He did not obey the warning, and was ordered to find bail.

DR. TANNER

Why, when policemen behave so outrageously are not their names and numbers given? Would the Government act in the same way in England in the case of a strike?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!