HC Deb 02 November 1882 vol 274 cc630-1
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the Mill-street Police are in the habit of making nightly visits to the houses of the inhabitants of the district, compelling them to leave their beds and prove that they are within doors; under what statute this is done; whether the police bring search warrants with them; if not, whether the householders are obliged to open to them, and what the consequence of refusal would be; and, whether it is the fact that a policeman named Tillman recently ordered Thomas M'Carthy, when peacefully walking with a friend in Mill-street to go home, about the hour of 6 p.m.; whether the constable was acting under orders; and, if so, what was the object of the command?

MR. TREVELYAN

The Millstreet police, acting in the exercise of their ordinary police duties, find it necessary occasionally to visit at night the houses of persons whom they have reason to suspect of being out at night for no good purpose. These persons are not obliged to admit the police or leave their beds, and, as no search is made, no search warrant is necessary. With regard to the case of Thomas M'Carthy, it is the fact that Sub-constable Tiernan did tell him he had better go home. This occurred between 7 and 8 in the evening, and the object of the constable was to prevent a crowd from congregating opposite the military barracks to throw stones at the soldiers, one of whom was struck with a stone on the 15th ultimo and seriously injured.

MR. HEALY

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether, seeing that the police had no authority for rousing people out of their beds, he would give instruction that this practice be discontinued? If not, he would publicly advise the people to resist the police.

MR. PARNELL

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had received information that many persons were visited twice in the 24 hours by the police—once in the morning and once after dark, and that the police insisted upon entering the houses of such persons and ascertaining whether they were in the house or not; and in case of their being absent they insisted on the members of the family answering where the master of the house was; and if persons would be justified in refusing admission to the police under the circumstances?

MR. TREVELYAN

I have no such information; but I shall refer the Question of the hon. Member to the authorities in Dublin.