§ MR. MARUMasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the action of the Constabulary Force in the town of Castlecomer, in the county of Kilkenny, that whereas a public meeting of the ladies of Castlecomer was convened by placards, at their instance, to be held at the rooms of the Catholic Young Men's Society, for the purpose of considering the advisability of presenting an address to Michael Davitt, upon such occasion, as upon former ones, two policemen attended, and when requested by one of the ladies, Miss Annie M'Kenny, to produce their authority for such proceeding, they stated "that they had orders to follow these ladies wherever they went;" and, whether such action shall be continued in future?
§ MR. TREVELYANMy attention has been called to this matter. The meeting was one convened by public placard, and the police attended in the discharge of their duty. It is not the case that when asked by Miss M'Kenny 572 to produce their authority, they stated "that they had orders to follow these ladies wherever they went." They have no such orders, nor did they say so. It is the case, however, that there were persons concerned in the promotion of the meeting who are believed to be engaged in endeavouring to renew agitation iii the district, and whose movements the police have instructions to watch.