MR. SMITH-BARRY (Hunts, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Police Authorities were fully aware of the danger incurred by the late James Donovan while residing at the evicted farm at Glenlara; whether he is aware that application had several times been made that be should be placed under special police protection, and that the police had admitted that a hut ought to be erected in the yard for that purpose; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government will make provision for his family?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Police Authorities inform mo that they were not aware that Donovan was in any special danger, and they believed that the protection afforded him by patrols was adequate. No application, I am informed, was ever made that Donovan should be placed under special protection. An application was made on September 30 last for sufficient police protection, which was duly afforded to the caretaker who preceded Donovan and to Donovan himself up to the date of his murder. This application was made by a Mr. Hanna, an officer of the Cork Defence Union, by whom Donovan was employed, and the District Inspector Reports that he informed this gentleman that if Donovan and his neighbour, the evicted tenant, continued quarrelling, personal protection would have to be given and a hut erected, but the decision of the agent not to press matters and the consequent friendly relations between the parties removed, in the opinion of the local police, the necessity for constant protection. Neither the agent nor Mr. Hanna at any 208 time took exception to the sufficiency of the protection afforded by police patrols, nor did they suggest any more effective protection, I am also informed that Mr. Hanna told the County Inspector that the police were most attentive to Donovan, that the District Inspector visited him frequently, and that he did not anticipate Douovan was in any serious danger under the circumstances then prevailing, which remained unchanged up to the time of the murder. Regarding the last paragraph of the question, I believe the police are at present looking after the support of the two children left by deceased.
MR. SMITH-BARRYIs it not a fact that the police were aware that the caretaker and the evicted tenant were on extremely had terms, and that, I think, in the presence of the police, certainly in the presence of Mr. Hanna, the evicted tenant struck the late caretaker in the face?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I think that, as this case must be the subject of inquiry in a Court of Justice, questions of that kind should not be asked, as they might tend to prejudice it.
MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)As I understand the right hon. Gentleman, he says no application was made for special protection, and he speaks of sufficient protection. I wish to ask him what distinction is drawn by the police between special and sufficient police protection?
MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Are who to understand that the Cork Defence Union, of which I understand the Member for South Hunts is president, intend to make no provision forthis man's family?
MR. J. MORLEYI am afraid I cannot answer that question. I must leave that to the hon. Member himself. In answer to the hon. Member for South Tyrone, I have to say I presume that by special protection is meant special personal protection. The District Inspector did not understand, so far as I know, that by special protection Mr. Hanna meant close constant personal protection.
MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he agrees in the statement alleged to have been made by Lord Rosebery in Manchester yesterday, that 209
the announcement of this murder fell upon Conservative and Unionist circles like gentle rain from Heaven on a parched earth.
§ [No answer was given.]