HC Deb 02 May 1882 vol 268 cc1938-9
MR. GIBSON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he would inform the House how many persons were arrested since the 1st April last under "The Protection of Person and Property (Ireland) Act, 1881," for intimidation and inciting others wrongfully and without legal authority to intimidate certain persons; how many persons previously arrested for the aforesaid offences had their cases reconsidered on the expiration of the statutory period of three months during the month of April last; and, in how many of such cases did the Government, as the result of such reconsideration, decide that the said persons should still be detained in custody?

MR. W. E. FORSTER,

in reply, said, that 17 persons had been arrested since the 1st April under the Protection of Person and Property Act. The right hon. and learned Gentleman having asked him on private Notice to state how many were released each week since that time—for the week ending 10th April the number was 39; for the 17th April, 37; the 24th April, 23; and 30th April, 44. He could not answer the two latter paragraphs of the Question on the Paper.

MR. GIBSON

Could the right hon. Gentleman give the approximate number?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I really could not give an answer to-day.

MR. GIBSON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following Report, in the "Saint James' Gazette" of May 1st:— A riot occurred on Saturday, at Frankfort, King's County. A number of persons, who were reported to have paid their rents, were attacked and beaten in a fearful manner. The police succeeded in arresting thirty men. The public houses were closed by order of the resident magistrate, and the streets were cleared at the point of the bayonet; whether the above occurrences took place; and, whether any of the persons reported to have been beaten were seriously injured?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I find there is no truth whatever in this report.

LORD ARTHUR HILL

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any information has reached him to the effect that— A large rick of hay, the property of a bailiff named Hayes, residing near Kilmorna, in the county of Limerick, has teen totally destroyed by fire; and, whether any one has been made amenable for this outrage?

MR. W. E. FORSTER,

in reply, said, that no information had been received at the Constabulary Office as to any persons being made amenable for this offence. He believed a rick of hay was burned.