HC Deb 12 April 1888 vol 324 cc1060-2
MR. PARNELL (Cork City)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has any further information to give the House with reference to the conflict between the people and the police and military at Ennis on Sunday last; whether he still adheres to his statement that stones were thrown from the building where the meeting was held; and, if so, whether this was done before, during, or after the police had been ordered to charge, whether any of the police or military were seriously injured, and, if so, how many; and, how many of the people received serious injury?

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

Sir, stones were thrown before and after. No one was seriously injured. The reporter of The Irish Times appears to have been most hurt, but his injury is not serious.

MR. PARNELL

I must request the right hon. Gentleman to give an answer to my Question. I have asked, in addition to whether stones were thrown both before and after, whether any stones were thrown from the building where the meeting was held; and, whether these stones were thrown during, before, or after the meeting?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

That is a Question which I have answered. Stones were thrown from the building both before and after the meeting.

MR. PARNELL

Were any of the military or police injured?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have already answered that Question. I told the hon. Gentleman that the reporter of The Irish Times was most injured, but his injury is not serious. So far as I am aware, no one was seriously injured.

MR. PARNELL

Does the right hon. Gentleman know whether any stones were thrown from the yard where this attack was made?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

From the yard?

MR. PARNELL

Yes.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not aware. I cannot answer that. I rather think not; but I will not be sure.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in addition to the reporter of The Irish Times, the reporter of the The Freeman's Journal was also seriously injured by a baton stroke?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, I am not.

MR. W. A. MACDONALD(for Mr. W. REDMOND) (Fermanagh, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the fact that two gentlemen representing The Freeman's Journal and Irish Times were seriously wounded by the Hussars and police on last Sunday in the town of Ennis; and, whether an investigation will be held to ascertain how it was that two representatives of the Press, in the exercise of their duty, were so assaulted by the forces of the Crown?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Divisional Magistrate reports that sundry representatives of the Press appear to have been present on the occasion in question. The reporter of the Irish Times seems to have been most hurt; but the doctor who attended him has stated that the injury is not serious. It is to be regretted that any representative of the Press should have suffered. All the circumstances of the case will, doubtless, come fully before the public in connection with the trial of the persons to-morrow who are charged with stone-throwing.