HC Deb 26 July 1888 vol 329 cc528-9
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, at the Petty Sessions at Abbeyfeale, on July 18, an Emergency man named James Lee, employed by Lord Guillamore, was convicted of presenting a loaded revolver at certain persons, and of being drunk whilst in the possession of loaded fire-arms; whether, on the same occasion, an Emergency man named Mullinock was also convicted of being drunk whilst in the possession of loaded fire-arms; whether the Resident Magistrate remarked that these men came from the Property Defence Association, and on the recommendation of their employer obtained licences to carry arms, which they abused; whether the licences of these men have been revoked; and, whether the Government will give such instructions with respect to licences for fire-arms as will prevent such cases in the future?

MR. W. ABRAHAM (Limerick, W.)

said, before the right hon. Gentleman answered that Question, he should ask the permission of the House to read a passage from a letter which he had received from the Rev. William Casey, the priest at Abbeyfeale.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That is not in Order on the Question.

MR. W. ABRAHAM

then asked the Chief Secretary, whether he was aware that there were eight or 10 of these Emergency men at Abbeyfeale; and whether the people of the district were not in terror of their lives of them; and whether, as a fact, no interference whatever had been made by the people of Abbeyfeale with regard to these Emergency men?

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

, in reply, said, he was afraid he could not answer the Question. With regard to the Question on the Paper, he was informed that the facts were substantially as stated in the first two paragraphs. As regarded the third paragraph, he was informed that neither of the men was employed by the Property Defence Association. The licences of these two men were about to be revoked; and every care has been and will be taken by those responsible to secure, as far as possible, that licences are issued to proper persons only.

MR. W. ABRAHAM

asked, if the right hon. Gentleman denied that evidence was given to satisfy the magistrate that these men did belong to the Property Defence Association?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he was informed that they were not.

MR. W. ABRAHAM

From whom did the right hon. Gentleman get that information?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whom they were employed by, for there are two cognate Associations, each of which is always repudiating the acts of the other?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know that they were employed by any Association.