§ MR. SHEEHY (Galway, S.)aked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, For what special services was the hon. Member for South Tyrone (Mr. T. W. Russell) entitled to obtain a seat on a police car to and from the evictions on the Vandeleur property, and granted the almost exclusive privilege of interviewing the evicted tenants and the members of their families, whilst the representatives of the Irish Press were only allowed inside the outer ring, and then under police charge?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Divisional Magistrate reports that the hon. Member for South Tyrone, or anyone else known to them, was given a seat upon the cars from time to time when available. The allegation that the hon. Member had any exclusive privilege of interviewing evicted tenants the Divisional Magistrate declares to be unfounded—all who were allowed inside having the same privilege. All members of the Press who made application were allowed inside. They were not under police supervision at all.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (MR. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)If the hon. Member for South Tyrone is allowed to attend evictions with the police in the capacity of a political agent, so that he may write letters to the papers afterwards, will the Irish 746 Government allow any other person to attend and check the statements of the hon. Gentleman?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI deny altogether the allegation that the hon. Gentleman attended as a political agent.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the representatives of The Cork Herald and The Cork Examiner were refused within the lines on the occasion referred to?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not aware of that; on the contrary, I gather from the Reports I received that all members of the Press who made application were allowed inside.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI shall be glad to make inquiries if the hon. Gentleman will put a Question on the Paper.