§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, How many citizens of the City of Cork were injured on the occasion of Mr. Lane's release from prison; what was the number, names, and technical medical terms of the wounds inflicted on the people, and what was the name or names of the responsible medical men who attended them; what was the exact number of police injured, the technical medical terms of the injuries inflicted, if any, and the name of the doctor or doctors who treated them; and, on how many occasions since December have there been similar collisions with the police?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: It would not be practicable to obtain in a definite form the information asked for in the first two paragraphs. As regards the remaining portions of the Question, the Inspector General of Constabulary reports that eight policemen were injured on the occasion referred to. Three of these are under medical treatment—one for contusion of the back, another for concussion of the brain, and the third for a cut or injuries to the face through being struck with a stone. Drs. Lawton and Curtis are attending them. Many more of the police were struck with stones, but they were not injured. On one other occasion only since December has there been a colli- 1471 sion between the people and the police.
§ DR. TANNERwished to ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman how it was that he could not give the information as to the citizens, inasmuch as all he would have to do would be to ask for it at the door of the north and south infirmaries in Cork, where full information regarding all the cases treated was registered?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, that if the hon. Gentleman asked him for a list of the cases treated he would be happy to get that information for him.
§ DR. TANNERMay I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman how it is that he can give me a report only as regards the policemen, and that he cannot give me information as regards the citizens. He tells us that one of these policemen was suffering from a contusion of the back, which might be produced by the most trivial cause, and yet he can say nothing about the public who were injured?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order !
§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)asked whether, on the occasion in question, the Riot Act had been previously read to the people before they were ordered to disperse?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANI have already stated that there was only one occasion since January last when there was a collision between the police and the people; and on that occasion a large crowd attempted to force their way through a body of police who were guarding the gaol, and the police then charged them with their batons.