§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What information he can communicate to the House with reference to the reported attack on an excursion party of Irish National Foresters at Portrush, on Sunday last, and the subsequent disturbances at different stations on the Northern Counties Line, and at Belfast, on the return of the excursion party in the evening?
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the Question, may I ask if he has seen the account in The Northern Whig of yester day, which states that at about 8 o'clock on Sunday a party of excursionists, alleged to belong to the Foresters' Society of Belfast, committed one of the most atrocious outrages that could possibly take place in Ireland? A party of holiday excursionists had been, out to Portrush——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder ! The hon. Gentleman is now reading an extract in confirmation of a particular view before he has heard the reply of the Minister.
§ MR. JOHNSTONThen I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has any information as to the origin and continuation of the occurrence?
§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked, whether it was the case that a Protestant clergyman had received a gunshot wound?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN)(who replied) said (Kent, Isle of Thanet)I have not seen The Northern Whig of yesterday, nor have I any special knowledge with respect to the origin of the outrage. The information I have to give the hon. Gentleman is that a telegram has been received from the Divisional Magistrate to the following effect:—
A Foresters' excursion of 1,000 persons from Belfast went in two trains to Portrush on Sunday last, and thence by various conveyances to Causeway. When returning to the train at Portrush they were assaulted and 'booed" by a number of Coleraine roughs, who came there for the purpose. Shots were then fired by one of the excursionists, who was arrested. Ten or 12 shots were fired from the train at Ballymoney. One boy was struck, but not injured. At Ballymena, when the first train was passing, about 30 shots were fired by the Foresters out of it. Three persons, one being a Presbyterian clergyman who was walking on the footpath, were injured. The crowd then collected, and placed obstructions on the railway to upset the second train with the Foresters. The police, however, when the train, which did not stop at the station, was approaching, removed the obstacles. Stones were thrown at the second train at Ballymena by the Orange Party, and peace was kept with great difficulty afterwards.
§ MR. JOHNSTONasked, whether the right hon. and gallant Gentleman would institute a full inquiry into the whole circumstances?
§ MR. SEXTONThere are three points on which I want information; and if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman cannot give it now I shall repeat the points on Thursday. The first point is, whether the managers of the excursion party gave notice to the police of the time of the excursion, in order that provision might be made for the preservation of the peace; the second point is, whether, during the attack at Portrush, three shots came from the assailants before any shot was fired by the excursionists; the third point is, whether only two constables were at Ballymoney, and whether gangs of men were stationed along the line, and threw large stones at the train, breaking the windows and smashing the doors, and injuring, among others, a lady?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, the only information he had received was the telegram he had road, and which he received a short time before coming down to the House. If the hon. Member would put the Question on the Paper for Thursday he would make further inquiries.
§ MR. SEXTONsaid, he would do so.