§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether an extra police force of four constables is maintained at Kilkelly, county Mayo, for the protection of Mathias Lydon, of that place, against his will; whether the District Inspector of Constabulary, on being remonstrated with by Lydon and asked to withdraw the force, advised Lydon to write to the County Inspector, and whether, this being done, that official threw back the case into the hands of the District Inspector; whether the district is chargeable with the cost of the extra force; and, whether the protection will still be compulsorily applied to a man who declares that he has never been threatened, that he is in fear of no one, and that the guard upon him is injuring his trade?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIt is not the case that four extra police are maintained at Kilkelly for the protection of Lydon. The station is strengthened by one man only, and there is no charge on the district occasioned thereby. Protection will not be forced on Lydon; but the local police having reason to believe that it is necessary, will do their best to insure his safety. With regard to the correspondence with the County Inspector, Lydon 630 appears to have been under a misapprehension as to what the District Inspector suggested to him.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the extra constable be withdrawn now?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANNo; the police consider it necessary.