HC Deb 02 April 1886 vol 304 cc599-600
MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, By whose orders the police refused to afford protection to an agent of the Orange Emergency Committee, who attended a sale at Edgeworthtown, county Longford, on Friday the 19th of March; and why, under the very eyes of the constabulary, this agent was permitted to be assaulted, and exposed to serious danger, when bidding for cattle offered for sale on that occasion?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)

I am informed that protection was afforded to this man by a force of 12 police. The only foundation for the statement that he was assaulted or exposed to danger was that his coat was smeared with mud unobserved by the police during the progress of the sale.

MR. JOHNSTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman say that adequate protection was given during the sale of cattle in the pound?

MR. JOHN MORLEY

I cannot answer off-hand whether that was so; but I presume that it was so when such a force of police was employed.