§ MR. HEALYasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is true that, on the 24th January, at a meeting of the Bantry Land League in a large storeroom in the town, a couple of policemen were in attendance; whether the head-constable asked permission to have some of his men present at the meeting; whether, on being refused, he stated that he could get a warrant, and insist on attending; whether permission was therefore given to the police to be present; and, if the conduct of the police has the approval of the Government?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)I have inquired into this matter, and what appears to have occurred was this. The secretary, Mr. Gilhooly, was standing in the street at Bantry, and on being asked by the head constable whether he had any objection to the head constable and another constable attending the meeting, objected to their doing so and said it was a private room. On this, the 62 head constable said he could get a warrant and go in. There the matter ended so far. Soon afterwards the head constable met a prominent member of the Land League, and on telling him that Mr. Gilhooly would not let the constables into the meeting, he said—"Come along, and I'll give you leave." Accordingly they went and were at once admitted. With reference to that part of the Question which inquires "if the conduct of the police has the approval of the Government," so far as I can see the constables were admitted to the meeting voluntarily, and not, as the previous terms of the Question would appear to suggest, under threat of obtaining a warrant. If any such threat had been used, in the circumstances of this case, it would not have had the approval of the Government.