MR. H. CAMPBELL(for Mr. M'CARTAN) (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu- 173 tenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been directed to the series of outrages alleged to have been committed by "the Castlewellan Conservative Flute Band" on its way from Rathfriland to Castlewellan on Saturday the 28th August last; whether the members of the band remained for some time on the public street of Rathfriland, adjacent to the police barrack and in the presence of the police, cheering for "the Skankhill Lewis'," "the Islandmen," "Harland and Haslett," and groaning for "Morley's Murderers;" whether the same party indulged in cursing the Pope and in firing off revolvers at frequent intervals on the public road leading from Rathfriland to Castlewellan; whether complaints have been made that revolver shots had been fired by members of this band at Catholic houses in Letalian and Dromena, and at the Roman Catholic Church of Kilcor; and that several persons on and near the county road had very narrow escapes from the bullets so fired; and, what steps have been taken by the authorities to bring the offenders to justice?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)(who replied) said: I have received Reports in reference to the matters referred to in the Question of the hon. Member which are not in accordance with all the statements contained therein; but as I will probably consider it necessary to direct legal proceedings, I do not think it would be right to discuss the details.