HC Deb 11 June 1888 vol 326 cc1698-9
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in reference to his speech at Battersea on May 16, relative to imprisonment for selling copies of Irish newspapers, If it is true that numbers of young lads in the City of Cork were prevented by the local police from selling copies of The Cork Herald and The Cork Examiner in the public street, and that some old women, who get their livelihood by the same newspapers in the suburbs of Cork, were likewise prevented by the police from selling the papers; and, whether some young lads were arrested and taken to the doors of the local Bride-well, though not actually imprisoned, in order to prevent them from carrying on the sale of The Cork Herald, The Cork Examiner, or United Ireland in the streets of the city?

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

Sir, it appears that there is no truth whatever in the report to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

MR. FLYNN

Arising out of the answer which the right hon. Gentleman has given, might I ask him if he is aware that large numbers of young lads in the City of Cork have been arrested by the police, and taken to the Bride-well, on the charge of selling copies of certain newspapers; and, furthermore, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of lads and one old man have been arrested by the police, taken to the Bride-well, and detained there some time on a charge of refusing to sell a copy or copies of certain papers to the police?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If I understand rightly this Question, which the hon. Gentleman says arises out of the Question on the Paper, it is really the same Question in a somewhat different form, and I can, therefore, only repeat the answer I gave before, that there is no truth whatever in the statement to which he refers.

MR. FLYNN

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me, if I furnish him with the names of the lads in question; and, furthermore, if I furnish him with the names of the police, will he take steps to prosecute inquiries?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Of course, if the hon. Gentleman will give me any information which will lead me to suppose that the answer I have given him is in any particular incorrect, I will make further inquiries; but to give the names of the boys seems a small step in the direction.

MR. FLYNN

I will give the names not only of the boys, but the names of the police who arrested them.