§ MR. JORDAN (Clare, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, at the eviction of Michael Connell, on the Vandeleur Estate, on Friday, the 20th instant, Colonel Turner placed two soldiers in a meadow, opposite a small gable window, with loaded guns, commanding them—"If any more gruel is thrown out of that window, fire; these orders are distinct enough;" whether, at the eviction of Widow Margaret Madigan, of Ladmore, on Tuesday, the 24th instant, in reply to the question—"If they do not come down shall we fire?" by Mr. Hill or Mr. Dunning, Colonel Turner is reported to have said, "Certainly;" whether the offences warranted such action on the part of Colonel Turner; and, whether the Government will inquire into the matter, and prevent such orders in future?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Divisional Magistrate reports that the sole ground for the allegation contained in the first paragraph is the fact that he placed two soldiers with unloaded rifles opposite the window from which hot gruel had been thrown, with directions that, if repeated, the soldiers were to point their rifles at the window. This had the desired effect. The matter referred to in the second paragraph was with a view to frighten some men into giving in who were offering a desperate resistance in a loft. As a matter of fact, the District Inspector's men referred to were without rifles, being armed with bâtons.
§ MR. JORDANDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that the order was not given to the soldiers to point their rifles at the windows and to fire if necessary; for he himself distinctly heard Colonel Turner say it?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI apprehend that the point of the answer is that the rifles were not loaded.
§ MR. JORDANI wish to ask the Solicitor General for Ireland under what Code, civil or military, these orders of Colonel Turner were given?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThere is no law regarding the pointing of unloaded rifles.