HC Deb 17 February 1887 vol 310 cc1759-60
"MR. FINUCANE (Limerick, E.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been directed to the following report in The Cork Herald of last Saturday, headed— Police outrage at Hospital, County Limerick. A man was arrested for being drunk, was dragged into a public house. Mrs. M'Carthy, its owner, being violently expelled, the police began to ill-treat the prisoner, when two young girls screamed, and said they would not see the man killed in their house; if the police removed the man to the barrack, no resistance being offered by the people; and if the entire force, including the man on guard, went through the town with loaded rifles threatening to shoot every person they met, actually striking and seriously wounding many inoffensive people; if one of the police went into the house of Dr. Gubbins, a county magistrate, and threatened to shoot his servant, actually presenting his rifle at her; if the police acted without orders, the sergeant being absent; and if it be true that they were all under the influence of drink, and that a number of cartridges were found in the streets in the morning; if those are the same policemen who recently batoned the Kilteely fife and drum band at the instance of District Inspector Greene; and, will the Government order an immediate inquiry into their conduct?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)

The newspaper paragraph quoted in the Question gives a very inaccurate report of what occurred. I am informed that a constable off duty was savagely assaulted by a man against whom he had given evidence some time ago. He was nearly strangled, and while insensible on the ground was rescued by two police, who arrested the man who had assaulted him. They took refuge in a public house, with their prisoner, from a mob which had collected, and conveyed him as soon as possible to the barrack. Mrs. M'Carthy was not expelled from her house. The police entirely deny the statements in the second, third, and fourth paragraphs of the Question. Charges of assault have been made against the police, and are now being investigated at Petty Sessions.