HC Deb 01 May 1882 vol 268 cc1813-4
MR. LEWIS

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in the town of Monaghan, it is a fact that of a force of over twenty men all are Roman Catholics but three, and that the head constable, the sub-inspector, and the county inspector are also Roman Catholics; whether this is in accordance with the usual practice in the distribution of the force; and, whether he will direct any change to be made?

MR. CALLAN

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question, I beg to ask him, Whether it is a fact that in Dundalk, where nine-tenths of the population are Catholics, the County Inspector, the Sub-Inspector, the Head Constable, and the majority of the constables are Protestants; and, whether this is in accordance with the usual practice in the distribution of the force?

MR. SEXTON

also asked the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he was aware that in Cookstown the Constabulary Force was entirely composed of Protestants; and that in Armagh, Down-patrick, Enniskillen, and several other towns in Ulster all the police officers were Protestants?

MR. W. E. FORSTER,

in reply, said, he had no knowledge of the facts referred to in the Questions of the hon. Members for Louth and for the county of Sligo; but they enabled him to state, in reply to the first Question, how exceedingly inconvenient it would be if the police were distributed and located according to their religious persuasion. Any attempt thus to distribute them would, he believed, be most disadvantageous to the good government and the efficiency of the force. As regarded the facts mentioned, he was informed that the actual number of constables in Monaghan was 21, of whom five were Protestants, which was about the same proportion as existed between the two religious persuasions in the place. The Head Constable, the Sub-Inspector, and the County Inspector were Roman Catholics. The County Inspector and Head Constable had been several years in the town, and the Inspector General was not aware of any reason for their removal. To remove a police officer from one district to another solely on account of his religion would not be expedient.

MR. MACFARLANE

inquired, whether the Chief Secretary had received any complaint of misconduct on the part of the Sub-Inspector which would justify his removal?

MR. HEALY

asked further, whether it was not the practice to send police to the South from the North, and to the North from the South?

[No answers were given to these Questions.]