HC Deb 02 May 1882 vol 268 cc1932-4
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can yet lay upon the Table a Copy of the communication which has been made to the Sub - Inspectors of the County Clare, withdrawing the circular issued on the 4th of March by County Inspector Smith; whether he will now say what course the Irish Executive proposes to take with regard to County Inspector Smith; and, whether a similar circular to that issued by County Inspector Smith was issued in any other county? The hon. Member also asked if County Inspector Smith was the same gentleman who, some time ago, in consequence of suspicious misconduct, had been removed from the County Down?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I cannot answer this Question without appealing to the House as to the unfairness of the hon. Member imputing misconduct without giving Notice that the statement would be made, and thereby conveying an erroneous impression, without my being able to answer the Question at the time. I am only to-day able to read the Minute which I have signed, after full consultation with his Excellency, in order that it might be communicated to the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary— The Lord Lieutenant desires me to inform you that, while he entirely approves of the object in view in the instructions issued on March 4 to the Inspector under your command—videlicet, to secure the personal safety of Mr. Clifford Lloyd in the discharge of duties exposing him to imminent danger, his Excellency must express his disapproval of the terms in which these instructions were conveyed. They might be supposed to suggest, though his Excellency is confident that they were not intended to do so, the use of firearms without reasonable apprehension of imminent danger to the person under protection; and, his Excellency adds, should such use of firearms result in killing any person, no assumption of responsibility on the part of the County Inspector can confer any immunity on the constable who so uses his weapon. You will, therefore, withdraw the instructions, and admonish County Inspector Smith to use greater care in future. I may add that it is not correct to speak of these instructions as a Circular at all. These instructions were private and confidential instructions sent to the Sub-Inspector, and no similar instructions were issued in any other county. The County Inspector of Limerick had, indeed, issued instructions to the Sub-Inspectors to take care and give full protection to Mr. Clifford Lloyd; but, at the same time, they were not to make any unnecessary display in doing so.

MR. SEXTON

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Does the Government intend to retain County Inspector Smith in office in the county where these private and confidential instructions were issued?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

We do not consider that it is necessary to remove him in consequence of these instructions.

MR. HEALY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since County Inspector Smith received the reprimand he has gone about the district bragging that he does not care one pin about it or the House of Commons?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I do not believe that statement.

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has not put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman, but has made a statement which is quite irregular.

MR. REDMOND

wished to know how it happened that Inspector Smith's instructions were issued without the knowledge of the Inspector General?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, that, undoubtedly, County Inspector Smith made a mistake in that matter. He was not now justifying the terms of these instructions; but it was not an unnatural mistake that he made, because instructions were sent to him, and also to the County Inspector in Limerick, to issue to their Sub-Inspectors a particular caution with regard to Mr. Clifford Lloyd, and he (Mr. W. E. Forster) had no doubt that County Inspector Smith thought he was merely carrying them out, and that, therefore, it was not necessary for him to send the particular wording to the Inspector General. He was not aware of other cases with regard to the Constabulary in which a similar mistake had been made.

MR. SEXTON

said, he must, under all the circumstances, give Notice of his intention to submit a Motion calling for the removal of County Inspector Smith.