§ MR. SEXTONI wish to address a Question to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland on an urgent matter which has just been communicated to me by tele- 886 graph. My Question is, Whether he is aware that at Tulla, in the county Clare, where a number of families have been evicted and huts were being erected to shelter them, Mr. Clifford Lloyd interfered to-day, stating that the building of the huts was illegal, and ordered the builder to leave the place this evening, and informed him that unless he left he would be arrested? I also ask whether Mr. Clifford Lloyd acted within his legal rights; and, if so, under what statute he could arrest the builder in case he refused to leave?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)The first part of the Question deals with a matter of fact, and, as I have not had the advantage of seeing the telegram which the hon. Member quotes, I cannot answer it. Assuming that the facts are, as stated by the hon. Member, correct, if Mr. Clifford Lloyd found that those tenants, or others on their behalf, were building huts in which the evicted persons might carefully watch the farms from which they had been evicted for the purpose of doing mischief to any persons who might take them, or with the object of preventing persons taking those farms, then, in my opinion, Mr. Clifford Lloyd has acted rightly.
§ MR. SEXTONUnder what Act of Parliament?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Under the Common Law, Sir. His duty is to protect life and property.