§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether, on Thursday night, February 24th, a party of men armed and disguised visited four dwellings of inoffensive and defenceless people, in the parish of Clifden, county Galway's whether two of the houses were broken into and the inmates maltreated, one old man having received a gunshot wound and many violent kicks, from the effects of which he still lies in a precarious state; whether shots were fired either into or within three of the houses so visited; and, whether great terror prevails in the neighbourhood in consequence of these outrages; and, whether any persons have been made amenable therefor?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)It is a fact that a party of men, some of whom were armed and disguised, visited the dwellings of four persons on the night of the 24th ultimo, in the Clifden district. Two of the houses were broken into and the inmates maltreated. One old man was wounded by one grain of shot from a pistol, which lodged in his arm; he received three kicks, which did him greater injury, but from the effects of which he is now recovering. Shots were fired both inside and outside the houses visited. The Sub-Inspector of Constabulary at Clifden reports that no terror prevails in the neighbourhood where these outrages were committed, and that no person has been made amenable, as the injured persons cannot identify any of the offenders. I under- 419 stand that a police-station is now established in the neighbourhood, and it is hoped that a careful system of patrolling will prevent the recurrence of further outrages of this kind.
§ Afterwards,
CAPTAIN AYLMERasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether any of the persons who recently committed outrages on defenceless Protestant inhabitants of Clifden, county Galway, have been brought to justice; and if he can inform the House whether any other cause than that of religion has been suggested for the outrages there committed?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)I regret to say that none of the persons who committed these outrages have been brought to justice, as the injured persons cannot identify any of the offenders. The motive assigned for these outrages is sectarian feeling, the injured persons being all converts to Protestantism.