§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that the congregation of the Albert Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast, on the recommencement of public service in their church on Sunday last were attacked by a Roman Catholic mob, and their pastor, the Rev. Henry Montgomery, insulted; and, whether the freedom of public worship in Belfast will be vindicated by the Government?
§ MR. SEXTON (Sligo, S., and Belfast, W.)As the Member representing the Division of Belfast which is concerned in this Question, I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the earliest stage of any alleged disagreeable incidents in connection with this church came later to a series of attacks on the lives and property of Catholics and Catholic churches and schools in the same quarter of Belfast; and also, whether he is aware that on Tuesday last the Executive Committee of the Magistrates of Belfast held a meeting on the subject, having before them a letter from the Rev. Mr. Montgomery, and the Reports which had been made by the Resident Magistrates and other officers who were charged with the preservation of the peace of the district on the day in question, and whether he is aware that they unanimously agreed that the statements were in most cases exaggerated and in many cases altogether unfounded, and that having regard to the present excited state of the town the Committee of Magistrates were of opinion that any annoyance which individual members of the congregation suffered in going to or coming from the church were not of a serious character; and whether, under these circumstances, the freedom of public worship in Belfast needs any vindication from Her Majesty's Government?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I am afraid it is impossible for me to 558 answer the Question of the hon. Member, of which I have had no Notice. I asked the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Belfast to postpone his Question the other day, because I observed that the reports published in the newspapers with regard to the occurrence were of a character which certainly was at variance with the reports I have received. The alleged occurrences have been closely inquired into by the Executive Committee of the Magistrates of Belfast, and I am happy to be able to inform the hon. Member that they were found to be greatly exaggerated. The Rev. Mr. Montgomery himself was good enough to meet the Magistrates, and he expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with the arrangements which had been made for protection and the manner in which the duty was performed, and he thanked the Inspector General for what had been done. He subsequently wrote to the Committee of Magistrates, stating that, while the Executive had done all that could possibly be expected for the protection of the congregation, yet in some cases individual members of the congregation had been insulted and some few assaulted, though not seriously, and he thought that the Constabulary had not been sufficiently energetic. This matter was specially considered by the Committee of Magistrates convened for the purpose, and the result was that they were satisfied that due precautions had been taken. I may add that the Committee of Magistrates consisted of persons representing the different phases of opinion in Belfast.