HC Deb 07 December 1888 vol 331 cc1414-5
MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the report in United Ireland, 1st December, 1888, of certain resolutions passed at the Killarney Branch of the National League— Resolved, that we hereby condemn the unpatriotic conduct of Patrick Cronin, James Brosnihan, John Cronin, and John Breen, of Killarney, and of Paddy Slattery, of Tralee, in taking grass lands from Lord Kenmare, and thus enabling his Lordship to stock the evicted farms on his estate. That we also condemn the action of J. Carthy, of Killarney, and 'Davy' Lynch, of Fossa, in grabbing farms on the Kenmare property from which the late occupiers were unjustly and harshly evicted.' The members next took into consideration the action of certain persons who sell cattle to Lord Kenmare's agent (Mr. Leonard) to graze the evicted farms on his property, especially those from which Mr. D. Shea, of Cleeney, Mr. Matt Horgan, of Knockmanagh, were evicted; and, whether adequate protection will he given to the men whose names are mentioned in the Resolution set out therein, as well as to others who may incur the hostility of this or other branches of the National League for acting in defiance of its Resolutions?

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

In answer to my hon. Friend, I have to say that I have not had time to make the necessary local inquiries to enable me to answer fully the first portion of his Question. As regards the second portion, I can assure him the Government will take care that adequate protection shall be given to all who are engaged in legal undertakings.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I wish to ask whether the Killarney branch of the National League is not a thing of the past?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know that the Question of the hon. Member arises out of the Question on the Paper. If he will put it down I shall be glad to answer it.