MR. MACATRTNEYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case that a shot was fired on Thursday night, the 12th of May, through one of the bedroom windows of the Protestant Female Industrial School at Clifden, while the Matron, who had a narrow escape of her life, was in the act of closing the shutters; and, if so, whether the Government has taken measures to protect the poor Protestants in that part of Ireland from similar acts of persecution and violence?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, the facts of this case are as follows:—On May 12 the matron of the Industrial School at Chifden was retiring to bed when near her window she heard the report of a gun. She afterwards found that two of the panes were cracked, but the shot did not go through the glass. The gun must have been fired at a considerable distance from the house. The police who were on patrol in the neighbourhood at the time also heard the report of the gun; but, I am sorry to say, have as yet found no trace of the perpetrator of the outrage, which I look upon as being sectarian rather than agrarian. Directions have been given to the police to pay particular attention to the school in future.