MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the extra-police tax assessed on the parishes of Grean and Ballinaclough, in the county of Limerick, amounted from the 24th of August to the 30th September 1882 to 3½d. in the pound on the valuation, and the extra-police tax from the 30th September to 31st December 1882 upon the same area amounted to £276 8s. 11d. or about 11d. in the pound on the valuation; what was the number of policemen stationed in the district previously to these dates; how many extra constables were added; what is the present strength of the police force there; and at what rate of pay the assessment of £276 8s. 11d. is calculated; whether it is the fact that, since the 15th of August last, no agrarian offence of any nature has been committed within the district; and, whether, in view of the peacefulness of the district during that period, of the sufferings of the farmers from adverse seasons, and in view of the fact that the small parishes of Grean and Ballinaclough (covering less than half the present Catholic parish of Pallasgreen) include the place where petty session charges are heard, he will be prepared to recommend the Lord Lieutenant to relieve the people from this burden?
§ MR. TREVELYANI am aware of the circumstances mentioned in the first paragraph of this Question. The number of policemen in the district previously to the appointment of additional Constabulary was 20; there were 18 added, and the present actual strength of the force is 36, showing two vacancies of 847 the ordinary description. The rate of pay upon which the assessment is calculated is the ordinary rate. It is not the fact that there has been no agrarian outrages in the district since the 15th of August. There have been six, including cases of malicious burning, assault, malicious injuries by flooding meadows, "Boycotting" notices, and threatening letters. The presence of the extra police is required in consequence of the existence in the district of secret societies, and the necessity of affording protection to several respectable families and others in the locality. At present no reduction in the force can be made.
MR. O'BRIENMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether the agrarian outrages referred to have occurred within the district actually described; or whether they are referrable to the entire petty sessions district?
§ MR. TREVELYANI conclude from the terms of the telegram I received that they occurred in the district, because it mentions specially the two parishes referred to in the Question.