§ MR. CALLAN, in rising to call attention to the action of the Royal Irish Constabulary on the 6th August last at Dundalk, said, he availed himself of that opportunity, because the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland had said there was not sufficient time to provide an answer, after official inquiry, to a Question for to-morrow. He (Mr. Callan) did not intend to occupy the attention of the House very long, but he thought that the right hon. and learned Gentleman should inquire into the circumstances to which he was about to refer. The proceedings objected to were on the part of the Constabulary, who insisted on forcing their 959 way into the bedroom of a dying man named Armstrong. On the day referred to, the Rev. Mr. Rainsford called at the house of Mr. Armstrong, and was there met by Mrs. Armstrong, who told him that the Rev. Mr. Dodds was at that time administering the last consolation of religion to her dying husband, and that he could not see him. He left the house, and immediately wrote to the sub-inspector of the police at Dundalk, stating that he required an escort. One of the magistrates residing at Dundalk thereupon issued an order, directing that two police constables should accompany Mr. Rainsford as an escort. He (Mr. Callan) believed that that was done without any sworn information. They proceeded to the house of Mr. Armstrong, and although the Rev. Mr. Rainsford was not wanted, he persisted, under the protection of the police, against the remonstrances of Mrs. Armstrong, in forcing his way into the bedroom of the dying man, who told him that his services were not required, and that he had seen another clergyman. He therefore left, but within half-an-hour he again returned, and forced his way into the room, and was once more assured that his services were not required. He (Mr. Callan) was not aware by whose authority the police constables acted as they did, and the question was, whether there had been a breach of the peace in regard to this escort. No one, he contended, had a right to ask for an escort of such a character. He also wished further to direct attention to the conduct which followed in the graveyard. The minister sent word, on the morning of the death of Mr. Armstrong, that he would not permit the burial to take place in the graveyard, and owing to the refusal to allow the burial service, the funeral had to be postponed upon two different occasions. Upon the day of the burial, Mr. Armstrong's relatives went to the burial place, but they found that the gates were locked. The gates were broken open in the presence of two policemen; but, afterwards, the police locked them. Ultimately they were opened, and the burial took place. He (Mr. Callan) was informed that none of these illegal proceedings would have taken place with regard to the conduct of the rector had it not been for the countenance given to him by the resident magistrate, and the 960 sub-inspector of the police. It was a remarkable circumstance that a clergyman, under the protection of the police, could force his way into a dying man's room. It was strange that formerly, owing to a compromise, it was agreed that the Dundalk bench of magistrates should be composed of three Catholics and three Protestants, and for a number of years this compromise was carried out with satisfactory results; but, upon the death of the late Lord Lieutenant of the County, a new state of things was instituted. Now, in Dundalk, a town essentially Catholic, under the present Lord Lieutenant, the bench was composed of only two Catholic gentlemen of property residing in the district, while the rest, six in number, were Protestants who were not persons of property, position, or intelligence. He did not wish to raise any discussion upon that question; but he begged to give Notice that he would to-morrow move for a Return of the information upon which the sub-inspector gave directions for the escort to the house of the late Mr. Armstrong, and he hoped that the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland would express his disapproval of the conduct of the magistrate, Mr. William Robson, in directing the police in this case to act without a written and sworn information, and to take what he maintained was the illegal course they had adopted in this case.
§ SIR PATRICK O'BRIENsaid, he was glad that the hon. Member for Dundalk (Mr. Callan) had referred to the matter, which was one of great importance. He contended that a primâ facie case had been made out, and that it called for an inquiry. He trusted that the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland would offer some explanation in regard to the subject. If the case as stated was true, those implicated ought to suffer for their conduct.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON)said, that the statement of his hon. Friend (Mr. Callan) was only ex parte, and, therefore, it would be unbecoming of him (Mr. Gibson) under the circumstances to offer any opinion upon it. He had listened most attentively to the statement, and it would be his duty to inquire into the case.