MR. SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is true, as stated in some Irish newspapers, that on Monday week an old woman who earned a livelihood by attending on racecourses, and charging a penny a shot out of a toy gun (fired by a percussion cap, without use of powder) at a wooden figure dressed as an ancient mariner, was arrested or stopped by the police at the Mullingar races, and cautioned against such a practice in a proclaimed district, she having "no licence to have and carry arms;" and, if this be so, whether the Government will extend to this old woman such arms licence as will enable her to earn a livelihood as heretofore?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,in reply, said, remarkable stories of this kind were not very rare in the Irish Press. The Government had instituted an inquiry into the facts of the case referred to, and he was almost sorry to spoil the story, but he had to inform the hon. Member that it was without foundation. What happened 1823 was simply this. The Irish constabulary had recently received general instructions to cheek itinerant gamblers at racecourses, and these orders had been carried out with very excellent effect at many race meetings during the present season. This old lady, hearing that the police were warning gamblers against continuing their pursuits, seemed somehow to think it possible she might be included in the designation. She asked a resident magistrate on the course whether she would be allowed to continue the pursuit of her business, and she was at once informed she would not be interfered with. She was not further spoken to nor molested by the police. The question of arms licence was not mentioned, and he was afraid this portion of the story was due to the lively imagination of the reporter.