§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether complaints have reached him that, on the night of the 31st of August, John Sheehan, a lamplighter, while performing his nightly duty, was attacked and beaten 1134 at Shinnicks Well, in the City of Cork by a sub-constable named Brown, who was semi-intoxicated; whether an explanation was made on the night of the alleged assault by Sub-Constable Brown and Constable Kirby to th.9 effect that they were executing a warrant, and they thought Sheehan was the person wanted; and, whether investigation into the matter will be made?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, the Constabulary reported that at 3 A.M. a constable and a sergeant proceeded to a lane to execute a warrant against a bad character. While the sergeant entered the house a man came down the lane and was stopped by Brown, the constable, who thought he was the man wanted. But on identifying him he allowed him to proceed. The constable denied that he had done more than stop this man Sheehan and prevent him from breaking away. Sheehan reported the matter to a Superintendent, by whom the sergeant and the constable were shortly afterwards met; and the Superintendent says that, so far from having charged the constable with being drunk, he censured Sheehan.
§ DR. TANNERasked, how it was that Sheehan was so much bruised, and how he was incapacitated from doing his duty if the constable did not assault him?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he had no Report as to Sheehan having been incapacitated from doing his duty, no understood that Sheehan had been directed by the Corporation to proceed by summons, and until that summons was disposed of no further action would be taken.