§ MR. EWART (Belfast, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has seen the report in The Times of the 20th instant, of an attack, resulting in the loss of some lives, on the Davis Street Police Barracks, Belfast, said to be for the purpose of rescuing a prisoner; and, whether he can give the House any further information on the subject?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I may state to the House the report which I have received of these occurrences. At 7 o'clock in the evening a most determined attack was made by some roughs to rescue a prisoner from the police station in Davis Street. A mob soon collected; several of them broke open the barrack door during a violent attack which was being made upon the house and demanded the prisoner. The window shutters outside were torn down and the glass smashed, stones and bricks in large numbers were hurled into the rooms, and attempts were made to seize the police rifles through the broken windows. The lives of the police were at the time in imminent danger, and they fired from inside at the attacking party. One man was shot while trying to enter the hall, and he died shortly afterwards in the hospital. A woman was wounded who has since died. The police fired some shots from the barrack at the persons who were forcing themselves in, and some of these shots wounded some of the mob who were outside in the street.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W., and Sligo, S.)I wish to know if the right hon. Baronet is aware of the renewal of the disturbances last night, and that the last outbreak was due to an attack made by a mob on an officer of the Society for the Registration of Nationalist Voters; and, also, if he is aware of a procession of the Mayor's workmen passing through the streets, the workmen using insulting expressions as they passed along; and, whether steps will now be taken to pre- 1120 vent the passing of the Mayor's workmen in procession through the streets?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHNo, Sir. The information I have received about last night's disturbances does not tally with what the hon. Member has stated. I will state what I have heard. The report is that eight or 10 shots were fired at the police in Hill Street at 9.45 P.M. The 5th Dragoon Guards were stoned in the Brickfields about 7 o'clock. One man was injured by a blow from a stone. A house was attacked in Wilson Street, and a pawn office broken into in the same locality, about 11 o'clock. Both houses belonged to Protestants. Twelve persons were arrested for rioting. The Black Watch were stoned in North Street about 6.30 P.M., and after that time all was quiet.
§ MR. SEXTONDoes the right hon. Baronet intend to take any steps to prevent processions of large bodies of workmen from the Queen's Island passing through the streets?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHThese processions have, so far as I understand, ceased for some time past. I am not aware that they have been renewed. But if any steps appear to be necessary to be taken with regard to them, of course I shall give directions in the matter.