§ MR. REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that on Sunday April 30th the Rev. John McGrath, of Kilteely, county Limerick, with a view to bring about a settlement, invited the tenants of Lord Normanton to come to him, one at a time, in his sacristy, to sign a petition to their landlord for a reduction of rent; whether acting constable Costello forced his way into the sacristy, and posted three of his men at the door, and refused to leave, although no meeting of any kind was being held; and, whether he approves of the police interfering to prevent settlements being arrived at between landlords and their tenants?
§ MR. TREVELYANI find that it is the case that on Sunday, the 30th of April, the Rev. Mr. McGrath, after celebration of Mass, invited tenants on Lord Normanton's estate into his sacristy to sign a petition for an abatement of rent. Constable Costello entered the sacristy uninvited, and was told by the reverend clergyman that he had no business to be there, unless he came prepared to sign the petition. This he refused to do, and left the sacristy at the request of the clergyman. He remained in the chapel yard without interfering further; and when the meeting was over he was called into the sacristy by the clerk, and the document was again tendered to him for signature. He declined to sign it, unless he was allowed to read it; but this was refused, and he was told to go away, which he immediately did. He did not force his way into the sacristy, nor did he place any of his men at the door. I do not think the constable acted with discretion on the occasion. So far as I can form an opinion, there seems to have been no necessity for his entering the sacristy until he was invited to do so, and I will let the Constabulary authorities know my opinion on the matter.