§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, By whose authority and on whose representation were a large number of soldiers present at the Galway Racecourse during the races recently held near the town?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe High Sheriff of Galway Town and another 1377 magistrate requisitioned the Sub-Inspector of Constabulary to have a force of 150 men, inclusive of the town force, in attendance at the races. There were, however, no Constabulary available for this duty; and consequently Mr. Gardner, Resident Magistrate at Galway, sent in a requisition for 175 Infantry, there being but 20 policemen of the town force available. In former years 150 police were usually employed on this duty.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked if the right hon. Gentleman would give the grounds of the requisition of the magistrates?
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, it was believed that there was reason to expect that the races would not end without a disturbance, and he was bound to say that a disturbance did occur. A riot broke out with little or no cause, except that a well-deserved arrest had been made, and the police and troops were attacked, and the Riot Act was read twice.
§ MR. O'DONNELLI ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the so-called riot arose out of the arrest of a poor deaf and dumb man by the police; and whether the reading of the Riot Act and the intervention of the troops and police only resulted in the arrest of a number of young lads; and whether he considered that that was a riot of the character which was reported to him by the local authorities?
§ [No reply was given.]