HC Deb 07 July 1879 vol 247 cc1721-2
MR. MITCHELL HENRY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, What are the circumstances under which an armed police force was marched into the town of Clifden on the eve of a proposed Tenant Right Meeting last week, and marched out again on a journey of fifty miles a few days afterwards; and, whether, in consequence of this demonstration, the proposed meeting was abandoned under the fear of police coercion?

MR. J. LOWTHER

The Clifden district, as the hon. Member is aware, has been for some time in a disturbed state in consequence of religious feuds, altogether disconnected with the causes which have led to disorder in other parts of the same county. Some persons charged with participation in disturbances arising out of these sectarian feuds were to be brought up for trial at Clifden on a particular day, and about the same time a meeting was announced to be held upon the subject referred to by the hon. Gentleman. As upon some occasions, in the same neighbourhood, small detachments of police had been attacked and obliged to fall back upon their supports, the Government felt it their duty to take the necessary steps to obviate any risk of the recurrence of any such untoward proceedings; and, accordingly, a strong force was despatched to the spot, and as soon as the occasion for its presence ceased it was withdrawn. As to the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's inquiry, whether the proposed meeting was abandoned in consequence of the presence of the police? I understand that the meeting was abandoned, but from other causes.

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

Would the right hon. Gentleman allow me to ask him to inform the House if there has been, on any occasion, a collision between the police and populace on the occasion of a tenant-right meeting?

MR. SULLIVAN

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, I will ask him if the attacks on bodies of police, who had to retire, in the main consisted of one constable, who retired on his barrack?

MR. J. LOWTHER

As to the Question asked by the hon. Member for Galway, I was in hopes that I had succeeded in explaining that the disturbances which occurred in the Clifden district were wholly due to sectarian causes. With reference to the inquiry of the hon. and learned Member for Louth, I may say, without going into any details—which I could scarcely do upon the present occasion—that the attacks I alluded to as having been made upon small detachments of police were made upon more than one individual, in one case, certainly, upon four or five.