§ MR. HARRINGTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a police hut has been recently erected at Coldoro, in the neighbourhood of Ballycumber, county Westmeath; whether there was any other reason for the erection of the hut than the fact that an iron gate had been stolen off the land of a man named Gaynor residing in the locality; and, whether it is true that the sub-inspector of police visited the houses of several farmers before the hut was erected, and cautioned them if the iron gate was not returned he would have this additional police tax placed on them?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, a police hut has been erected on the lands as stated. The theft of the gate was only a symptom of the state of affairs which rendered the police necessary. Mr. Gaynor had taken an evicted farm, which had been "Boycotted," and turned into a common by the neighbours. He sought police protection to enable him to stock it, and this was afforded to him by patrols, which, however, proved to be insufficient. Preparatory to putting cattle on the farm he repaired the fences and put up an iron gate, which was stolen and carried away. Persistence in this line of conduct rendered the imposition of extra police necessary; but the district was given a further chance of escaping the proclamation by the circumstance referred to in the last paragraph of the 260 Question. It is true that the Sub-Inspector, acting under the direction of the Resident Magistrate, warned the people that unless the gate was returned the Lord Lieutenant would be asked to proclaim the district.
MR. O'BRIENI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any proposal has been made by the Government to send Mr. Gaynor out of the country?
§ [No reply was given.]