§ MR. METGEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, On what grounds it has been considered necessary to establish an extra police force in the parish of Bohermeen, county Meath, proof of any outrage having been committed in that district having failed before the magisterial investigation; and, whether the burden of the expense of that extra force is to be laid on the distressed inhabitants of the said parish?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, it is not true that the proof of this outrage failed on the magisterial investigation. Persons arrested on suspicion were dis- 1196 charged for want of evidence; but there appears to be no doubt that the house of a farmer named Callaghan was entered and searched by an armed party. Not finding him, they threatened his wife that they would come again and shoot her husband, and they fired several shots in the house. The resident magistrate was of opinion that this man required protection for some time, and accordingly a special police station was formed in the district. I certainly shall feel it my duty to give him the necessary protection. Under the Constabulary Acts the moiety of the expense of this extra force will be charged on the barony in which the station is situated.