§ MR. JAMES O'BRIEN (Mayo, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the disturbances which have lately taken place at Belfast have been entirely due to the riotous conduct of the Non-Catholic party, composed largely of the employés of the Mayor of Belfast; if it is the fact that, in the course of those disturbances, the Non-Catholic party attacked, pillaged, and wrecked the houses of a number of Catholics living isolated in Non-Catholic districts of the town; and, if it is the fact that the Catholics of Belfast have taken no part in those disturbances; that there has been no encounter whatever during those disturbances between Catholics and the Non-Catholic party; and that the disturbances have been entirely confined to attacks by the Non-Catholic party on the armed forces of the Crown, viz. Police and Military, and on the houses and property of isolated Catholics?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)The Irish Government have decided to issue a Commission of Inquiry into the recent 1712 deplorable occurrences at Belfast. The inquiry will extend to the origin and the nature of the riots, the proceedings taken by the magistrates and other Local Authorities for their prevention and suppression, and the action of the police during the riots. Under the circumstances, I will ask the hon. Member to excuse me from entering into the matters raised by his Question.