§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If he is aware of the fact that, on Wednesday last, while a young lady named McCormack was walking in company with two respectable married ladies in the town of Kilrnallock, the head constable came up and demanded Miss McCormack's name, telling her at the same time that she should leave the town; and, under what statute has a constable such power, and who directed him to take such summary proceedings?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)The Head Constable in charge of Kilmallock district was aware that Miss M'Cormack was an active and prominent member of the Dublin Ladies' Land League, who for her proceedings in an adjoining county had recently been in prison because she refused to give security for her good behaviour. She was a stranger in Kilmallock, and the constable, seeing her going from house to house, accompanied by two other prominent members of the Ladies' Land League, seems to have been afraid she would be the cause of disturbance in the district, and warned her to leave. This he did as a constable charged with the general duty of keeping the peace of the district, and not under any special Statute.
§ MR. HEALYwished to ask whether Her Majesty's Government approved of the conduct of the constable in the matter?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)That is a Question which I would require some little time to consider; but having regard to the general condition of Ireland at present, I think that if any person who is charged with the duty of keeping the peace sees in his district anyone whom he considers liable to disturb the peace, he is hardly exceeding his duty by requesting that person to leave.
§ MR. O'SULLIVANreminded the right hon. and learned Gentleman that he had forgotten to answer the latter part of the Question—namely, under what Statute had a constable such power, and 657 who directed him to take such summary proceedings?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)said, that the constable appeared to have been afraid that the peace of the district would be disturbed, and that was the reason he warned the lady. The constable was himself in charge of the district, and he did not appear to have received specific instructions in this case. [Several hon. MEMBERS: Under what Statute did he act?] Not under any Statute; but in the discharge of his general duty to preserve the peace.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Home Secretary, Whether, considering the fact that a constable could order a lady, a native of Ireland, out of the town that she was visiting, he thought it necessary to have an Aliens Clause in the Bill before Parliament?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)She was not ordered at all.