§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware of the fact that Acting Constable Glynn, of the Louth Constabulary Station, County Louth, accompanied by Sub-Constable Jebb, of the same station, tore down some placards giving public notice, as follows:—
Irish National League. In accordance with a Resolution adopted at a preliminary meeting held on Sunday last to consider the advisability of establishing a Branch of the above in the town of Louth, a public meeting will be held, immediately after last Mass, on Sunday next, 5th November 1882, for the purpose of forming a Branch of the Irish National League for Louth District. Men of Louth, assemble on Sunday, and show by your presence and by your subscriptions your desire and determination to take your place in the ranks of those who are labouring to make Ireland a Nation;whether the acting constable, on being questioned as to the legality of the placards, declared that the words "desire and determination" were "unconstitu- 856 tional," and, when asked as to his authority for tearing down the placards, replied "Begone, and don't obstruct us in the discharge of our duty;" whether the acting constable exceeded his legal right in tearing down the placards, in giving a decision upon the legality of their language, and in threatening those who asked him to state his authority for his conduct; whether, as promised some time ago, the Irish Executive have issued instructions to the Police, cautioning them with reference to the tearing down of placards; and, whether the Executive will now take any steps to protect the right of public meeting, and guard against breaches of the peace, by restraining the tendency of individual members of the Constabulary Force to interfere unduly with the public?
§ MR. TREVELYANNo report of the occurrence mentioned in the Question of the hon. Member had reached the Inspector General up to the 4th instant. He therefore telegraphed the substance of the Question to the Sub-Inspector at Ardee, in which district Louth Station is situate; but I have not yet learnt the result. The hon. Member is under some misapprehension with regard to the issue of instructions to the police relative to placards. What I promised should be done was to issue instructions to them not to interfere with placards relating to the Labour League and Shepherds' Association, and this has been done. I think similar instructions may be requisite with regard to the placards of the Irish National League, and I will therefore give orders for their issue at once.