§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the townland of Rathclooney, county Clare, is charged with the cost of extra police stationed at Spancil Hill, some miles away; if these police have been stationed there in consequence of the murder of a man named McMahon, which occurred near Spancil Hill, in August last; if Rathclooney is in another parish from that in which the murdered man lived, and if two intervening townlands are not charged with the tax; and, if so, for what reason; and, if he will state upon what grounds the whole of the parish in which the murdered man lived is exempt from the Police Tax, while portions of an adjoining parish are compelled to contribute to it?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANIn consequence of the murder of M'Mahon, an extra police force is stationed at Spancil Hill to afford protection and prevent further outrage. The townland of Rathclooney, about one and a-half miles distant, is a part of the district taxed, which is that believed to be responsible for the murder and for the concealment of its perpetrators. One intervening townland—not two as alleged—is exempted, because it contains the 1711 houses and farms of the murdered man's widow and immediate relatives. The remainder of the parish is not included, because it is outside the usual area of taxation.
§ MR. KENNYIs it not a fact that the land exempted from this tax is ground held by landlords, and is not that the reason that the Crown do not wish to tax it?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANI have already stated the reason.