§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether instructions have now been given to the Irish Police not to demand admission to houses, whether at night or by day, without a warrant; and, if not, will he state that householders would be justified in refusing admission; whether it has been reported to him that, on a Sunday in last month, Constable Brophy, of Millstreet, with three police, entered and proceeded to search the house of Thomas M'Carthy without producing a warrant; if Brophy had a warrant with him; and, whether this was done under the Crimes Act?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe owner of any house visited by the police may decline to admit them if he thinks fit to do so, and the police thereupon go away unless they are armed with a warrant. In the case of Thomas M'Carthy, referred to in the Question, the police had no warrant; but they were admitted by the 1293 inmates, who might, if they wished, have refused them admission. In visiting houses at night the police are acting in the discharge of their ordinary police duties—not under the Crimes Act.