HC Deb 21 February 1882 vol 266 cc1225-7
MR. REDMOND

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland (in the absence of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), If his attention 1ms been called to the following extract from the "Leinster Leader" of 20th January 1882:— On Monday last, Captain L'Estrange, R. M., attended at Casey's public house, Castlejordan, to make inquiries relating to the firing by the police on some men seen near there on Sunday night Deeming it necessary to swear a witness, he found he had no Testament, neither had the publican. So he directed a policeman to go to Mr. Boylan, teacher of the National School, close by, and ask him for the loan of one. The sub-constable delivered the message. Mr. Boylan said he had no Testament. In a few minutes Captain L'Estrange hastily entered the school-room, accompanied by three or four policemen, and called out loudly for the teacher. Mr. Boylan said—I am the teacher. Captain L'Estrange—Take off your hat, Sir. How dare you keep on your hat in my presence. Do you know, Sir, you are in the presence of a magistrate and a gentleman? I am Captain L'Estrange, R.M. Take off your hat. Mr. Boylan—I will not take off my hat. I do not know you at all, and I think it strange any person should enter my school-room during business hours, and order me to take off my hat. Captain L'Estrange—Policeman, pull off the fellow's hat. This the policeman did, and flung it on the ground. Mr. Boylan took it up, and again put it on, when Captain L'Estrange again ordered the policeman to pull it off. This having been done with greater violence than before, Mr. Bovlan asked him what did he mean by such conduct. Captain L'Estrange—I sent to you, Sir, for a Testament. How dare you refuse it? Mr. Boylan—I told the policeman that I had no such thing, and consequently could not give it. The Captain and his party then loft Mr. Boylan to continue the business of his school, as best he might; whether it is true, as reported, that a violent assault was committed by Captain L'Estrange and the policemen under his command upon Mr. Boylan; and, if so, whether he intends to take any notice of the matter?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

From the information with which I have been furnished, it would appear that the newspaper account of this transaction was rather coloured. It seems that the magistrate wanted a Testament in order to take sworn evidence, and, as one was not at hand, he sent a civil message to Mr. Boylan, the neighbouring national schoolmaster, for the loan of one. Mr. Boylan refused, and the magistrate then went himself to the school, introduced himself to Mr. Boylan, saluting him with ordinary courtesy, removed his own hat, stated who he was, and requested Mr. Boylan to lend him a Testament, in order that he might take an information. Mr. Boylan kept his hat on, and. refused in what seems to have been a defiant and discourteous manner. The magistrate requested him to remove his hat during the interview, and on his refusal called on a constable to remove it, which was done. With reference to the last inquiry in the hon. Member's Question, I cannot say whether the Chief Secretary considers it necessary to take any notice of the matter.

MR. REDMOND

said, the right hon. and learned Member had not answered whether a violent assault was committed on Mr. Boylan by Captain L'Estrange and the policemen under his control.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

There is no information furnished to me further than the assault occasioned by the removal of Mr. Boylan's hat, and which might possibly amount in law to a technical battery.