MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it a fact that three armed Emergency bailiffs, in the employment of the Land Corporation, broke into the licensed premises of Miss Cusack, at Drangan, county Tipperary, on the 2nd October last, and attempted to provoke a disturbance by drinking toasts justly offensive to Catholics, and, on their way home, repeated their offensive shouts, and discharged their revolvers along the road; whether conduct of this description is constantly indulged in by Emergency bailiffs, who are licensed to carry arms, and for whose protection extra police are quartered on the district; and, whether any steps have been taken to bring the offenders to justice, and deprive them of arms' licences?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am informed that the facts are not as stated in this Question. Three caretakers on evicted farms entered Miss Cusack's shop in the ordinary way, and it was afterwards alleged that when supplied with drink they drank a toast offensive to Roman Catholics. This they denied, stating, in fact, that they were refused drink. Two of them, however, were dismissed by their employers for having been absent from their posts. The third, a man of previously exemplary character, was cautioned by his employers to be very guarded in his future conduct. It is not the case that they fired off revolvers along the road, or that Emergency bailiffs constantly indulge in conduct such as is described in the Question. It does not appear that any offence was committed for which any of the men could be prosecuted.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not know how that stands; but I presume they have.