§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that Constable O'Rourke, Ballintogher, Sligo, attempted to intimidate the supporters of the National candidate for the existing vacancy in the Parliamentary representation of the county, by having 727 at the public meeting in Sligo town, on Sunday last, called aside a young man named James Cawley, Ballymote, seizing him by the shoulder, and asking his name and business, and "what brought him there;" whether the constable noted Mr. Cawley's replies in writing, and also took the names of all bandsmen at the meeting; whether O'Rourke has been censured before for his officiousness; and, if the Government approve O'Rourke's conduct? He would also ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he has seen the report in the newspapers, that the proposer and seconder of the National candidate at Sligo, with their assenters, were hustled out of the Grand Jury room by the police; and, if he has seen the report, whether he has put any question to the police on the subject?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, that he regretted to say he had not seen the report. With regard to the first Question, according to the Report he had received, Constable O'Rourke was not in Sligo at all on the day named. While on duty at Ballintogher, he saw a post car with several passengers stop at a public-house. It being Sunday, he went to them to ascertain if they were bonâ fide travellers. He did not seize anyone by the shoulders; he did not ask anyone his name. He (Mr. Trevelyan) was informed that O'Rourke was an excellent policeman, and it was not the case that he had been censured for officiousness.