§ MR. TOTTENHAM (Winchester)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case that the perpetrators of the outrage on the Roman Catholic Bishop's residence at Sligo have been arrested, and confessed their guilt; if it is true that all these three men are Roman Catholics, and that no Protestant had any hand in the outrage; whether the same men afterwards took part in the riots and incited the mob to acts of violence; and, if he will communicate to the House the confession made by all or any of the persons arrested?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Two men, both of whom are Catholics, and one of whom is alleged to have been the ringleader in the riots at Sligo, have been arrested, and both state that they are guilty of having caused the injury to the wall of the Catholic Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace; and I understand, from a telegram which I have received to-day, that a third person has turned approver. Beyond that I have no information. As prosecutions are pending, I must refrain from expressing any opinion upon the case.
§ MR. SEXTON (Sligo)said, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he is aware, with reference to this affair, that the Catholic clergy of Sligo have been exerting themselves, both in the streets on Saturday night and in their places of worship on Sunday, for the prevention of the continuance of the disorder; whether he is aware that a Catholic priest has met a large crowd of 1852 people outside the town of Sligo, and induced them to go back, and that cordial relations exist between the Catholic clergy of Sligo and their Protestant brethren?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY, in reply, said, the Police Reports confirmed what his hon. Friend had stated as to the attitude of the Catholic clergy, and the cordial relations which existed between them and their Protestant brethren.