§ MR. REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that, on Sunday the 15th January last, at about eight o'clock in the evening, Constable Molloy, of Fairy Police Station, King's County, together with a sub-constable of the same police station, and Richard Mulligan, a farmer residing at Bally-heashill, King's County, were, in contravention of the Sunday Closing Act, served with drink by Mr. Casey, a publican at Castlejordan, County Meath; whether the party took the drink to an adjoining field, and when surprised by a police patrol ran away, and, on refusing to stop when called on, were fired upon by the patrol; and, whether it is a fact that it was represented to the authorities by Molloy and the police that the said firing was the result of a raid made by the inhabitants of the district upon the police?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON) (for Mr. W. E. FORSTER)The transaction to which I assume the Question refers occurred in the County Meath. The Sub-Inspector states that, so far as he is aware, there is no truth in the allegation that any police of Fahy or any other station obtained drink at Casey's public house on the night in question in contravention of the Act. It is not the fact that any party was surprised by the 1090 patrol, and what occurred was this—The patrol saw a group of men apparently lurking at the end of Casey's house, and as Casey was most unpopular in consequence of having supplied food to the police, they called on the parties to stand. Instead of doing so the party ran away, and one shot was fired by the patrol. The patrol reported the occurrence, but Constable Molloy's name was not mentioned in the matter. In consequence of the hon. Member's Question, the County Inspector has been directed to inquire personally into this statement respecting Constable Molloy; and if the hon. Member is in possession of any special information respecting the matter, perhaps he will be so good as to furnish it to the County Inspector.
§ MR. REDMONDasked whether any action had been taken with reference to the firing of a shot at men who were simply guilty of running away?