HC Deb 10 November 1882 vol 274 cc1185-6
MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Matthew Smyth, a farmer residing at Coolarty, about three miles from Granard, county Longford, who went out on Thursday the 26th October with his gun, for which he is duly licensed, for the purpose of shooting plover; whether it is the fact that after once firing he was accosted by constable Lennon and sub-constable Moran, of Ballinalee, who ordered him to halt, and that on Mr. Smyth's becoming alarmed and running towards his own house, constable Lennon fired three shots from his revolver in rapid succession at him, but did not succeed in hitting him; whether the police then took the gun from Mr. Smyth, but gave it back to him the next day; and, whether the authorities have taken any notice of the way in which the constable made use of his revolver?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the facts of the case are these, as far as I have them; but there is an important point on which I have asked for further imformation. The two constables referred to were on duty in the town land of Coolarty at the time; they heard a shot fired, and at once proceeded to the place; a man rose from behind a ditch and ran away; they called on him to stand, shouting to him that they would fire if he did not do so. They called on him several times to surrender, and finally, as he continued to run away, one of the constables fired three shots for the purpose of compelling him to surrender. They then took his gun from him; but as he had a license for it, and is a man of good character, it was restored to him next day by order of the Resident Magistrate. I have called on the In- spector General to report on the matter, which is one for inquiry.

MR. PARNELL

Does the right hon. Gentleman know by what authority the police have taken upon themselves in Ireland to interfere in poaching cases, and perform the part of gamekeepers?

MR. TREVELYAN

said, the allegation in this particular case, so far as he could see from the information given to him, was very different, for it was that the committal of outrage was the object, and not game.