HC Deb 15 March 1887 vol 312 c372
MR. P. J. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord. Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the address of the Right Honourable Baron Dowse to the Grand Jury of the North Riding of Tipperary County, at the recent Spring Assizes at Nenagh, in which the following passages occurred:— Gentlemen, I am very glad to tell you that the business to go before you is very light. The number of cases is not more than eight. Of the cases reported to me by the County Inspector, numbering 28, with the exception of the eight I have mentioned, they do not show any tendency to crime in this part of the county. The contrast between these 28 cases and the 41 cases brought under the notice of the Judge on Circuit last year, is, on the whole, very satisfactory. In fact, so far as overt acts of crime are concerned, the North Hiding of Tipperary was never in a better state. You must remember, Gentlemen, this is not the first time I was on Circuit here;and, as far as I can judge or form an opinion, the state of the North Riding of Tipperary is very satisfactory. There has been a decrease of crime in all cases, and a decrease of 49 in cases of intoxication. So far as I know, you have every reason to be satisfied with the state of the county; whether, at said Assizes, there was a presentment for£505 for extra police, referring to which the Judge, in reply to a traverse, said "it was imperative on him to pass it;" and, whether, in view of this address of Baron Dowse, the Government will take stops to relieve the ratepayers of Tipperary from the burden of this amount for extra police?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I believe the report to be substantially accurate. The question of extra police has been very recently under the consideration of the Irish Government;and, in their opinion, the number cannot be safely diminished. They are chiefly required for the protection of individuals;and it is satisfactory to learn, from the learned Judge's remarks, that they have so efficiently performed their duty.