HC Deb 01 April 1881 vol 260 cc473-4
MR. A. J. BALFOUR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has received any further information as to the riot at Middleton on the 21st ultimo; and, whether he is prepared in the circumstances to forbid a general meeting of the Land League which has been advertised for next Sunday?

MR. W. E. FORSTER,

in reply, said, there could be no doubt that on the 21st ultimo there was a disturbance at the place alluded to in the Question of the hon. Member; but the report in the newspapers was somewhat exaggerated. As to the meeting, the Irish Government, so far as he was aware, had not got positive information as to whether it was to be held on Sunday or not; and they certainly had not got such information as would warrant them in prohibiting it. He stated yesterday that the borough of Middleton was in a disturbed state, and a special meeting of the Council in Ireland was held to-day for the purpose of proclaiming that barony and the rest of East Cork.