§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of his statement that the police are instructed not to persist in remaining at indoor meetings of the National League if the meeting object to their presence, Whether, on Sunday the 9th instant, Acting-Sergeant M'Guire entered the meeting place of the Sovey (county Sligo) branch of the National League, while the members of the branch were engaged in the transaction of their business, and, being informed by the chairman that the meeting objected to his presence, replied that he would not leave until removed by force, and dared those present to lay hands upon him; whether the secretary objected to this observation of Acting-Sergeant M'Guire, and asked him if he had instructions from his superiors to insist upon remaining; whether he replied that he had such instructions from his officer; whether the acting-sergeant re- 22 mained until after the meeting had concluded; whether any intimation as to his conduct will be conveyed to him; and, what steps will be taken to restrain police constables from provoking breaches of the peace, by interfering with persons engaged in the exorcise of their legal rights?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, it was true that Police Sergeant M'Guire, accompanied by a constable, seeing the door open, entered the house in which this meeting was being held, and found about 20 persons assembled. The sergeant did not remain in the room; but as soon as he was informed that the room had been rented from the owner for the purpose of holding meetings of the National League, he withdrew outside