HC Deb 18 February 1884 vol 284 cc1198-9
MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that, on the occasion of the National League meeting in Charleville, a policeman forced his way into a private room of the hotel where three Members of Parliament were being entertained at dinner at the expense of the proprietor of the hotel; whether the constable stated that he would not give any information as to his business until threatened with expulsion from the room; whether the proprietor of the hotel and some townspeople, who, at his invitation, joined his visitors at dinner, were subsequently fined for their presence on the occasion; and, whether this action on the part of the police was authorized or approved by the Irish Executive; and, if not, upon whose instructions it was undertaken?

MR. TREVELYAN

I am informed that the police went into the licensed premises on the occasion in question because they had reason to believe that a breach of the Licensing Laws was going on. They found a number of persons seated round a table with liquor before them, and they took the names of those who they knew to be residents in the place, and therefore not bonâ fide travellers. The constable distinctly denies that he refused to state his business until threatened with expulsion. The persons identified as not being bonâ fide travellers, as well as the proprietor of the hotel, were proceeded against for an offence against the Sunday Closing Act. When the case came before the magistrates the defendants failed to prove that they were there as invited guests, and they were accordingly convicted and fined. While I think that the proceedings were in some respects to be regretted, they do not appear to have been illegal, and I cannot therefore blame the police for their action in the matter.

MR. O'BRIEN

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any instance in England of a number of respectable inhabitants of a town being punished in a Police Court for paying a mark of respect to strange Members of Parliament on a visit to their county?

MR. HARRINGTON

Might I also ask whether there was not a similar prosecution in Bandon arising out of the same cause?

MR. TREVELYAN

I can only blame the police if they have acted illegally. I cannot blame them for carrying out the law.

MR. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in introducing the Sunday Closing Bill, take care to insert a provision preventing the recurrence of prosecutions of this kind?

[No reply was given.]