HC Deb 06 July 1888 vol 328 cc558-60
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he has seen the reports in the Cork papers of 2nd instant, to the effect that on Saturday, at 2 a.m., a number of armed policemen left Fermoy, in company with a bailiff named Devane and several under bailiffs, in order to seize upon cattle, horses, and other stock on foot of decrees granted for the county cess (including the Constable Leahy compensation tax); that at Macrona they were joined by more armed policeman from Kilworth, Diaglen, and Careysville Stations; that they effected seizures in the following cases, and for the following amounts—namely, John O'Brien, Kilmurray, amount due £1 11s. 9d., a horse seized; Edward Flynn, Kilmurray, amount due 7s. 3½d., a mare seized; Edward O'Brien, Kilmurray, amount not stated, a mare seized; whether he can state the approximate cost of this large police force engaged in this collection of a local rate; and, if the employment of the Constabularly at such hours in duties of this kind has received his sanction?

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

The Inspector General of Constabularly reports that in the cases of John O'Brien and Edward Flynn the seizures, as also the amounts due, are as stated in the Question; but that no seizure was made from Edward O'Brien. There were nine policemen only engaged on the duty. The approximate cost is about £2. It was absolutely necessary for the bailiffs to arrive at the place by sunrise, otherwise the stock would have been driven off the land.

MR. FLYNN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware that, upon the occasion of the seizure by bailiffs and police of some horses and cattle last Saturday morning at Kilmurray, county Cork, on foot of decrees for county cess, as the seized animals were being driven to the Ballyhooly "Pound," the bailiffs and police used offensive language towards Mr. Thomas Barry, P.L.G., and other farmers who were going towards the "pound," and that, when Mr. Barry was subsequently going into the "pound," he was assaulted by Sergeant Johnston, of Kilworth, and another police sergeant; and, if the facts be as stated, will he cause directions to be given to the Constabulary defining their exact duties under circumstances of this kind?

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

The Inspector General of Constabularly reports that Sergeant Johnston denies that he or any of the police used offensive language towards Mr. Barry or anyone else; but that Mr. Barry, who is now constantly following the collector of county cess through the neighbourhood, had some chaffing remarks made to him by the bailiff's assistants. The sergeant further denies that he in any way assaulted Barry, nor did any other policeman. But he states that when the seizures arrived at the pound the owners were about paying the amount of the decrees, when Barry stepped in, apparently with the object of stopping the settlement, whereupon he warned him to keep back, and to allow the bailiff to transact his business.