HC Deb 01 December 1884 vol 294 cc366-8
MR. ONSLOW

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it true that there were parties who were not acting in accordance with the principles and doctrines of the National League called up before the Committees of branches of that Association at Timahoe and other places in Queen's County, when the Rev. Mr. Phelan, P.P., and Messrs. Bugin and Ryan, C.C.'s, were the presiding Members; were these parties interrogated by those gentlemen and others as to their connection and dealings with landlords and persons in charge of farms from which persons had been evicted, and made to promise, through fear, that they would cease to have anything to do or say with them for the future; if such Courts have been held, have the facts been reported and brought under the notice of the Government or their Law Officers; and, if so, have any proceedings been instituted against the offending parties; and, is it the fact that the Rev. Mr. Ryan at Timahoe had been previously moved by his Bishop from the county Carlow to his present parish, on representations made by the authorities as to his acts and conduct in connection with certain landlords in that county?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

It is believed that persons who had acted in a way obnoxious to the National League have been summoned before branches or Committees of that body at Timahoe and elsewhere, and that one at least of the clergymen named in the Question has presided on such occasions, when the persons summoned were interrogated and subjected to intimidation, and forced to give promises of the kind indicated by the hon. Member. Reports to this effect have been made to the Government, and accounts of these proceedings have been published in local newspapers, which are the organs of the National League. The matter is being carefully considered by the Government, with the advice of the Law Officers. I believe that the statement in the last paragraph of the hon. Member's Question is correct, excepting that Mr. Ryan's removal was not due to any official representation by the authorities.

MR. ONSLOW

asked, was the right hon. Member aware that this intimidation had been going on for some months, and that, even at the present time, these Courts were being held; and that no intimation had been given to the Catholic priests mentioned that their action was illegal, and came under the terms of the Prevention of Crime Act?

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

said, before the Question was answered he would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any of the information with reference to this alleged intimidation had come from any of the persons alleged to have been so intimidated?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The information was derived from various sources, and I have myself seen reports in local newspapers bearing out all I have said.

MR. ONSLOW

Has any intimation been given to these Catholic priests that they are acting in violation of the law?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The matter is, as I have already stated, under consideration.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Has any information or complaint come from any persons alleged to be intimidated?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I do not consider myself called upon to answer that Question.