MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he is aware that on Sunday and Monday of last week the police at Castlebar tore down two sets of placards which were posted in that town, calling a public meeting; and, if so, whether the police acted in this instance on the authority of the Government; and, if not, whether he can state to the House on whose authority the police acted; and, whether the meeting referred to has since been held; and, if so, whether it was conducted in a peaceable and orderly manner?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, that on the 22nd of May placards were posted in the town of Castlebar, calling on the men of Mayo 1235 to assemble in their thousands to prove that they were not degenerate descendants of the men of '98, and announcing that a meeting would be held to decide on the form of a monument to be erected to the memory of the gallant Frenchmen who fell in that neighbourhood in '98, fighting for the independence of Ireland. It occurred to the local authorities that some offence might be given to the loyal inhabitants of Castlebar by placards calling a meeting in honour of French invaders who defeated a force mainly consisting of Irish Militia. Therefore, directions were given by the local constabulary authorities, and some of those placards were taken down. The matter was reported to him, and on considering the circumstance it seemed to him that the meeting was an unimportant one, and not likely to provoke a breach of the peace. On further consideration, the same opinion was entertained by the local constabulary authorities. The meeting was in no way interfered with, and it passed off in a very peaceful and orderly manner; but he was sure the hon. Member would be sorry to learn, according to the information which he had received, that neither from the number of persons present, nor from their position in society, could much hope be formed that sufficient funds would be raised to effect the object of the meeting.