HC Deb 21 November 1882 vol 274 cc1792-3
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the people of the parish of Loughmore, Templemore, county Tipperary, assembled in public meeting a few days since, unanimously adopted a resolution emphatically denying that the existence of crime and outrage can be alleged as a reason for quartering an extra force of Constabulary in the district of Loughmore East; that for months a single outrage or crime has not been committed in the district; that the relations existing between the tenant farmers of the district among themselves, and also between the tenant farmers and the landlords, are without exception friendly, and that the people court investigation into the truth of these statements; whether it is true that the most recent act committed in the district, which could be brought within the category of offences in regard to which the quartering of extra Constabulary might be ordered, was the posting at least three months ago of notices "boycotting" a sale of meadow, and whether the sale was carried through without any impediment whatever; and, whether the Government, in view of the condition of Loughmore, will remove the charge from the poor tenants of that district of extra police?

MR. TREVELYAN

I understand that a small meeting of about 20 persons assembled at Loughmore, County Tipperary, on Sunday, the 12th instant, the object being to establish a branch of the National League. At the conclusion of the meeting the resolution referred to in the Question, denying the existence of crime and outrage in the district, was passed, and a copy of it was forwarded to the authorities in Dublin Castle on the 15th instant. No outrage of importance which would necessitate extra police has occurred actually in the parish of Loughmore; but on an adjoining townland, which is almost surrounded by Loughmore East, William Hickie was brutally murdered on the 27th of September last. In consequence of this murder, it has been deemed necessary to locate in this district a party of four police for the protection of Hickie's family. These are the only additional police it is proposed to send; and it will be for the Government to consider—regard being had to the improvement visible in the district—whether some portion of their cost may not be remitted.