§ MR. JORDAN (Clare, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If, since July 1 last, the number of the police force at Doombeg, County Clare, has been increased to nine; if at the suppression of the National League the number was increased from five to eight; if the sergeant of the force at Doombeg swore at the Petty Sessions at Kilkee that his district was perfectly quiet and peaceable; if no crime or outrage has been committed in Doombeg parish for the past five or six years; if, on June 30, four or five of this extra force got drunk in barracks; if the sergeant and three of the men had a free fight; if this row was reported to the authorities by the sergeant; and, if so, has any investigation been held in reference thereto; and, if the Government will make inquiries into these allegations, and, if true, will they reduce the police force there to the normal numbers?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)(who replied) said: The District Inspector of the country reports that no increase whatever has been made in the number of the police force at Doombeg since July 1. Two men were added in November, 1887, and one in February, 1888, making a total of eight, at which the number at present stands. He is not aware that the sergeant made at Kilkee Petty Sessions any such statement as that ascribed to him. Within the past five and a-half years 16 outrages have been reported from Doombeg; and in the present year extensive preparations were made for violent resistance to the Sheriff. He believed there is no ground for the allegation that the men miscon- 1713 ducted themselves on June 30. He was at the station himself on the following day and saw no trace of any such occurrence, nor was there any Report made to him on the subject. He is of opinion that the present number of men there is absolutely necessary.