§ MR. MOLLOYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the alleged conduct of the head constable of Edenderry, as reported in the "Leinster Leader" of June the 3rd, when a social concert was given at the residence, Lei-trim House, of Mr. Eugene O'Brien; whether the head constable, Macken, had any authority either under the existing law, or by direction from the authorities, to stop in the street and threaten Mr. Eugene O'Brien, his brother, Mr. Michael O'Brien, the Poor Bate Collector, and Mr. Andrew Pelin, that if they attended this concert he would report them, and suggesting pains and penalties in case of their attendance; whether the head constable attended at the concert with a large body of men, and threatened that in the event of any interference with his note taking he would shoot the people; whether the programme of the concert had been previously submitted to and approved by the police; whether if the allegations are well founded he will now remove head constable Macken from this district; and, whether the head constable has publicly stated that he does not care about any Questions relating to his conduct being asked in Parliament, and that he will continue to act as he may desire?
§ MR. TREVELYANI have inquired into this matter, and find that the newspaper account of the transaction is incorrect in important particulars. The head constable acted under the directions of his superior officers, who had reason to believe that the concert was being held for an illegal purpose. The head constable was ordered to take the names of those attending. He denies that he used any of the language attributed to him. There is no foundation whatever for the statement that he threatened to shoot the people. He had no conversation with Eugene O'Brien. He did tell Michael O'Brien 986 that he had sufficient force with him to enable him to carry out his orders, and he met Mr. Andrew Pelin in the street and advised him, as an Assistant National School Teacher, not to attend the concert. The programme had not been submitted to the police for approval. The head constable denies that he ever said he does not care about Questions in reference to his conduct being put in Parliament. The Inspector General informs me that he is a man of excellent character, and there is no reason why he should be removed from the district.