§ MR. HEALYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the rifle range at Templemore has frequently been pronounced most dangerous; whether behind the targets and within the effective range there are farm-houses in a direct line, and other houses very little out of the direct line; whether the direct line is not moreover diagonally crossed at even closer range by a high road totally unprotected, though concealed by a hedge; whether hundreds of recruits are not trained at rifle practice at this range; whether at Buttevant a similar state of things does not prevail; and, if the door of a cottage known to be in danger was not recently pierced by a bullet which missed the target at that place?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, the rifle range at Templemore has never been pronounced most dangerous, nor has any accident ever occurred there. The nearest farm-house is 1,450 yards in rear of the target, and no high road crosses the line of fire within 1,500 yards. Recruits are regularly trained there. As to Buttevant, the long range is perfectly safe; but I am not quite sure that the stop butts at the short range are as high as might be desired, and I have ordered inquiry to be made. Nothing is known of the door of a cottage having been pierced by a bullet.
§ MR. HEALYWould the right hon. Gentleman say it was not true, when an action was actually pending as to the occurrence at the cottage?
§ MR. CHILDERSThe answer, both from the resident officer and from the officers in Dublin, is that nothing is known of such a case there. However, if that is the hon. Gentleman's information, and he will confer with me privately, I will make inquiry.