§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is true that, about two o'clock in the morning, on Friday last, a numerous body of armed police marched into the town of Tuam and made their way into the houses of several respectable persons and ransacked their premises under the allegation of searching for arms; further, to inquire under what authority these acts were perpetrated, and whether the police discovered anything to justify their conduct.
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, in consequence of information received by the constabulary authorities, warrants under date of June 12 were issued by the Lords Justices of Ireland authorizing a 126 search for arms in seven specified houses in Tuam. These warrants were executed after sunrise on June 14 in a perfectly legal and regular manner in conformity with the provisions of the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act, 1875. The only result of the search, so far as Tuam was concerned, was the discovery of some rifle and revolver cartridges in one of the houses. With reference to the subsidiary Question of the hon. Gentleman, it is the case that other searches of a similar character have been made elsewhere; but in such cases, also, the provisions of the Statute I have alluded to have been strictly complied with.
§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYgave Notice that when the Irish Estimates came on he would bring this subject under the attention of the House, and he hoped the Irish Government would be made aware that they could not perpetrate these outrages with impunity.