HC Deb 28 March 1884 vol 286 cc1006-7
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire-land. Why Section 8 of the Crimes Prevention Act (making assaults on bailiffs and police in the execution of their duty, taking forcible possession of evicted farms, &c. offences under the Act), has boon applied by proclamation to the county of Louth; whether the County Court Judge of Louth, in opening the Hilary Quarter Sessions on the 31st of January last, said— There are only seven bills to go before you, and they are only of the ordinary class of crime; whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of Mr. Baron Dowse, in opening the assizes of the county of the town of Drogheda on the 3rd instant, addressing the Grand Jury— I am very happy to inform you that there is no business to go before you at the present Assizes; as it is only matter of form you have a right to be proud of the favourable state of morality and order in your district; whether his attention has also been drawn to the statement of Mr. Justice Harrison, in opening the Spring Assizes for the county of Louth on the 4th instant, at Dundalk, to the Grand Jury— I am happy to see that the business of a criminal nature for the present Assize is extremely light.…The report of the county inspector is also very gratifying, he having only returned nine cases that required special notice, and that is a very small number in such a county as Louth. The reports from the other parts of the county are also good; what facts can be assigned to explain the issue of the proclamation; and, whether it will be revoked?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, I have every reason to believe that the extracts quoted by the hon. Member are correct. The county of Louth was proclaimed under the 8th section of the Crimes Act, in order that in the event of cases of riot taking place they might be dealt with under its provisions.

MR. SEXTON

begged to direct the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the extract in the 4th paragraph from Mr. Justice Harrison's address, and to ask on what evidence the Lord Lieutenant apprehended any riots might occur?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the Lord Lieutenant, judging from the immediate past, thought it extremely probable that rioting would occur on St. Patrick's Day; and until the state of things which existed in the North of Ireland had come to a close, the Irish Government would regret very much that any decision should be given in any case of conflict between Orangemen and Catholics which would be suspected to have been given from Party motives.

MR. SEXTOX

Now that St. Patrick's Day is over, and that there is no conflict between Orangemen and Catholics, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would suggest to the Lord Lieutenant the propriety of removing this proclamation from County Louth?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, I am quite willing to submit the revocation of the proclamation of County Louth to the opinion of the Irish Government; but it does not follow that all the counties in the North of Ireland are in the same position.