HC Deb 02 March 1882 vol 266 cc1937-8
SIR HENRY TYLER

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether, upon Sunday, 12th February 1882, in the parish church of Mount Nugent, county Cavan, at 1.30 p.m. the Rev. Mr. Briody, CO. of the parish of Kilbride, diocese of Meath, in announcing a meeting of the Ladies' Land League to be held in the neighbourhood, and exhorting the people to attend, made use of the following words, That it would servo Irish landlords right if the people rose and cut their throats; as the French did with their landlords one hundred years ago; whether, upon this, the constable in command marched the men of the Royal Irish Constabulary, under his charge out of chapel, and reported the matter to the nearest magistrate, who attended in person at Dublin Castle, and laid it before the Under Secretary; whether, about the same time, the Rev. Mr. Briody, in a state of intoxication, called one night at the Mount Nugent Constabulary Barracks, demanding an escort for some Land League huts, which were about to be brought from Oldcastle Station to the neighbourhood of Mount Nugent; and, whether the Rev. Mr. Briody's inflammatory language has been brought under the notice of the Government on former occasions?

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

Sir, it has been reported to the Government that the Rev. Mr. Briody, on Sunday, the 12th of February, 1882, from the altar of the Catholic church of Mount Nugent, delivered an address of the most reprehensible and inflammatory character; but not in the precise words set out in the Question. It is also the fact that the same clergyman called one evening at the Constabulary barracks and made some request for Constabulary protection for Land League huts; but his condition at the time was such that the constable in charge did not consider Mr. Briody knew what he was about, and, therefore, did not take any notice of his application. Language used by Mr. Briody from the altar during Divine Service has on a former occasion been brought to the notice of the Government. I cannot, therefore, refrain from expressing my astonishment that this gentleman's ecclesiastical superiors have not put a stop to conduct of this description.

MR. HEALY

asked, whether the Government had a shorthand writer in the chapel at the time the Rev. Mr. Briody was said to have made use of the language referred to?

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

No, Sir; if the Government had had a shorthand writer in the chapel it might have altered matters very much.

SIR HENRY TYLER

asked, whether the Government would take notice of this conduct?

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

said, he was not prepared to answer the Question without Notice of it.

MR. HEALY

asked, in that case, how were the reverend gentleman's remarks brought to the notice of the Government, and how could they tell that the reverend gentleman's words were correctly reported?

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

I hope the House will excuse me for declining to answer that Question.

COLONEL MAKINS

asked, whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Public Worship Bill for Ireland?

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

I am not aware of any such intention.