§ MR HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the following notice was torn down by a policeman at St. Leonard's Chapel, Tintern, county Wexford, this week:—
Irish National League! A meeting of the parishioners of Tintern will be held at Ballycullane, on Sunday, November 5th instant, at 3 o'clock, for the purpose of organizing a branch of the above Association, and electing a committee. Union is strength. God save Ireland;if he approves of this action; whether, 938 about a month since, a Tintern policeman tore down another placard calling a meeting in aid of evicted tenants, if this had his sanction; whether, last summer, a circular was issued by his authority instructing the police respecting their treatment of placards; and, whether the police action in the two cases now referred to was in contravention of that circular; and what notice he will take of the matter?
§ MR. TREVELYANI find that the placards mentioned by the hon. Member were taken down by members of the County Wexford Constabulary, and so far as I can judge, I think they ought not to have been interfered with. The action of the police was not in contravention of the instructions issued to them recently with regard to placards, as these instructions were limited to the placards relating to the Labour League and Shepherds' Association. I am of opinion, however, as I stated yesterday, in reply to the hon. Member for Sligo (Mr. Sexton), that similar instructions may be requisite with regard to the placards of the Irish National League, and I have therefore given orders for their issue.
§ MR. TREVELYANthought the hon. Member exaggerated the power of the Irish Constabulary if he imagined they could put up the placards that had been pulled down.