HC Deb 19 August 1881 vol 265 cc354-5
MR. WARTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case, as stated in the "Dublin Evening Mail" of Saturday last—that one of the Royal Irish Constabulary met on the road a Roman Catholic clergyman who is connected with the Land League; that the constable omitted to touch his hat to the priest; that the priest stopped him and angrily demanded his reason for that omission; that the constable replied, I am perfectly willing to salute your reverence, hut the last time I did so you took no notice of me. If you choose to return the salute I shall he happy to make one; that, thereupon, the priest asked him, "Will you return this?" and struck him a sharp blow on the face; that the constable did nothing, but said that he would report the occurrence to his superior officer; that his superior officer wrote to the authorities at Dublin Castle asking for instructions as to the proper course to take; that the reply was that no notice should be taken of the occurrence; whether he approves of the course taken by the Castle authorities; and, whether he will cause the law to be put in force against anyone who breaks the peace, even though he be a priest and connected with the Land League?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

, in reply, said, that as far as he could make out there was no truth whatever in the statement set forth in the hon. and learned Member's Question. There was no official record of the matter in Dublin, and the officials recollected nothing of it.

MR. WARTON (for Viscount FOLKESTONE)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, at a recent eviction near Clifden, co. Galway, a policeman, while in discharge of his duty, was violently assaulted by the Rev. Father Rhatigan, C.C.; and, whether the case was reported to the authorities in Dublin; and, if so, what course has been taken in the matter?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

, in reply, said, that he had received an official Report in connection with this case, from which it appeared that the rev. gentleman in question insisted on going into an hovel from which an old woman was being evicted. He was prevented from so doing by a policeman, on which he grew very angry and tried to drag the policeman away by force. Being a very small man, and the constable in question about 6 feet high, he only succeeded in tearing a shoulder strap from the latter's coat, and went away using a good deal of strong language. The matter was not considered to be of sufficient importance for any action to be taken with regard to it.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

On whose land was the eviction?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

believed that it took place on the land of a Mrs. Suffield. There were seven evictions on the property in the neighbourhood of Clifden. Two of the tenants settled with the agents on the previous Saturday and received 25 per cent reduction in their rents. The sheriff told Father Rhatigan that if the remaining number did not pay their rents the evictions would be proceeded with.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what reduction was offered?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Five-and-twenty per cent was offered, and they would not accept it.