§ MR. J. E. REDMOND (Wexford, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether an action was recently commenced against the police at Ennis by Mr. Dennis MacNamara, a local newsvendor, for stealing the publishing board and placard of United Ireland placed outside his shop; whether, by way of defence, the police paid a sum of money to meet their liability in the matter; and, whether, if this be so, instructions will now be issued to the police, in Clare and elsewhere, not to interfere in future with placards of newspapers outside newsvendors' shops?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Inspector General of Constabulary reports that an action for damages against certain members of the Constabulary at Ennis for carrying away a board exposed outside the licensed premises of Dennis MacNamara was instituted. Five shillings was lodged in Court by the solicitor for the constables to meet a liability which was denied, the amount being considered sufficient, should the jury give a verdict for the complainant. The solicitor for the constables recently received a notice that the case would not be proceeded with.