HC Deb 28 July 1881 vol 264 cc19-20
MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the eviction of James Killen, a tenant on the estate of Mark Antony Levinge, at Cardenstown, county Meath, for non-payment of one year's rent due in respect of the disastrous season of 1879, such rent having been raised in 1872 from £64 8s. 1d. to £100: whether, since the date of the eviction, three policemen have been kept continuously on the premises; whether it is the fact that the district is and has at all times been most peaceable and orderly; and, whether he will state upon what grounds and at whose request these policemen were stationed there, and at whose expense they have since been maintained?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

, in reply, said, that the person referred to in the Question had been evicted for non-payment of one year's rent. He believed it was a fact that such rent had been raised in 1872 from £64 8s. 1d. to £100. Since the date of the eviction three policemen had been kept continuously on the premises in order to protect the caretaker, against whom great animosity was evinced. He was informed by the police that the landlord made an effort to settle amicably with Killen, offering a reduction in the amount due; but the tenant refused it. It was not considered safe to withdraw the police yet.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

The part of the Question with reference to the district being peaceable and orderly has not been answered.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Well, I cannot think that can be the case when I find that the life of this caretaker is endangered, and it is necessary to have police to protect him.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

May I ask if it is the practice at Dublin Castle to consider a district disturbed when there has been no disturbance in it for five years?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I think the hon. and learned Member must be aware that there is danger in such a case as this, where a very hostile feeling is believed—

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

Believed! Will the right hon. Gentleman state on what facts it is believed to be necessary?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Would the hon. and learned Member wish us to wait till the man was either injured or killed?

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

gave Notice that next day he would ask on what grounds the Government had determined to act in this way in a county in which there had been no crime or outrage for many years?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I will answer the Question at once. I did not say we had grounds. What I said was that we had reason to believe that the man's life was in danger, and that it was our duty to protect him. I do not think we are called on to give the exact reasons for these proceedings. Acting under our sense of responsibility, we believe that the man would not be safe unless he was protected.

MR. REDMOND

Did I understand the right hon. Gentleman to state that the police were maintained in this instance at the expense of the district?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

No.

MR. REDMOND

At the landlords'?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

They are maintained in the same way as the other police, at the public expense.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

They are maintained at the expense of the British taxpayer.