MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Why Sub-Constable Clifford has 948 been removed, on suspension, from Longhill Station to Rathkeale, county Limerick, without any charge stated; whether it is the fact that Sub-Constable Clifford discovered some rounds of buckshot ammunition concealed near the house of a man named Michael Fitzgerald, who, it was alleged, had been supplied with ammunition by Constable Egan of Longhill; whether he delivered up the ammunition to Sub-Inspector Harrison, of Rathkeale, and was immediately afterwards removed from Long-hill on suspension, without any charge being communicated to him; whether the Sub-Inspector was responsible for the statement made in this House that there was no foundation for the allegation that ammunition had been supplied to Fitzgerald by Egan; and, whether an inquiry will be held into the discovery of the buckshot, and the conduct of Sub-Inspector Harrison, Constable Egan, and Sub-Constable Clifford?
§ MR. TREVELYANSub-Constable Clifford was removed partly because he was suspected of conspiracy against the constable Egan; and, in the interests of discipline, it became necessary to separate the parties at Longhill. The immediate cause of his suspension was that he had detained some articles of value which had been lent to him, persistently declining to give them up, alleging, as a reason, that the person in question owed him money. He is a man of unsteady habits, with five unfavourable records against him. It is the case that Sub-Constable Clifford found some buckshot ammunition near the house of Michael Fitzgerald; but the allegation that it had been supplied to the latter by Constable Egan is, I am assured by the County Inspector, wholly without foundation. I see no grounds for an inquiry into the matter.
MR. O'BRIENinquired whether it was a fact that this man was punished to some extent for communicating with him? The fact was that he had never had anything to do with him, either directly or indirectly.
§ MR. TREVELYANI will make a note of that inquiry.