§ MR. SEXTON (for Mr. BIGGAR)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it was a fact that Constable Kilcummins, of Rosslea police station, in the county Fermanagh, had brought a charge against Sub-Constable Walsh, at Rosslea Petty Sessions, of indecently assaulting his (Constable Kilcummins) servant girl; that the servant girl, whose age is fourteen years, on cross-examination admitted that the whole case was a concoction of Kilcummins and his wife to destroy the character of Walsh; that the case was dismissed by the magistrates; and, if so, what reason did the authorities of the Royal Irish Constabulary assign for refusing to allow Sub-Constable Walsh to recover from Constable Kilcummins the expense he had undergone in defending himself from this charge; and, further, had the matter been investigated by the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and had Constable Kilcummins been punished for conspiring with his wife to coerce this little girl to swear lies for the purpose of destroying the character and means of livelihood of Sub-Constable Walsh; and, if so, what punishment had been inflicted on Constable Kilcummins; were the Government aware that two years ago six policemen were stationed in a shooting lodge in the townland of Eshnadarra, on the Shove Beagh mountains in the county Fermanagh, belenging to John Madden, of Rosslea Manor, in said county, for the purpose of preserving the game for Mr. Madden; and, if so, from what source was the money drawn for the maintenance of this force; and, did the Government intend continuing so many policemen in this place, considering the fact that there never 689 was a single agrarian outrage committed in the district?
TREVELYANIt is the case that Constable Kilcummins brought the charge mentioned against Sub-Constable Walsh, and that the magistrates refused depositions; but it is not true that the girl who was alleged to have been assaulted admitted that the case was concocted by the constable and his wife. There is no ground whatever for that allegation. It is not the fact that Sub-Constable Walsh was refused permission to recover his expenses from the constable. He made no application to that effect. Ho did apply to get his expenses from his own authorities; but, as his conduct on the night in question, even on his own showing, was by no means free from suspicion, his County Inspector refused his application. There was nothing in the conduct of Constable Kilcummins to call for punishment. The police at Eshnadarra were not placed there for the purpose stated in the Question. The station was established for general purposes on the recommendation of the Lieutenant and Magistrates of the county. It is an ordinary county station involving no charge to the district, and it is not intended to abolish it.