§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork Co., N.E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, after the committal to prison of the hon. Member for East Mayo (Mr. Dillon) at Dundalk on Wednesday, a body of armed policemen forced their way through a crowd who were peacefully listening to an address from the balcony of the Imperial Hotel; whether, at the same time, a party of Dragoons charged through the crowd with drawn swords from the opposite side; whether the police, with their clubbed rifles and swords, injured many members of the crowd, and placed one man's life in danger; whether there was any proclamation forbidding the people to assemble, or any warning given, or the Riot Act read, before the police and Dragoons wedged their way through the crowd, or any disturbance during the delivery of the previous address before the police commenced their attack; and, who ordered the police to force their way through the meeting, with what object, and by what authority?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The County Inspector of Constabulary reports that the facts are not as represented in the Question. A body of armed policemen did not force their way through the crowd; but as an escort of police with batons, having in charge three prisoners, were passing through the crowd which blocked the street immediately after the hon. Member had ceased to speak, the police were stoned and a rescue of the prisoners attempted. The Dragoon escort returning from duty did not charge the crowd. The Resident Magistrate ordered them to move through the crowd and assist the police in dispersing it. The Cavalry had their swords drawn as usual. So far as I can ascertain, nobody's life has been endangered. There was no proclamation, nor was the Riot Act read. The police did not attack the people; but by order of the Resident Magistrate endeavoured to clear the street, which was quite blocked, and to prevent further disturbance.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered my Question as to whether there was any disturbance during the time that I was delivering my address; and is it not the fact that it was only when the solid body of the police, which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned, forced their way through the crowd that was jammed in a narrow street, that it was then, and then only, that such stones were at all thrown.
§ MR. ROWNTREE (Scarborough)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask him, arising out of his answer to the Question of the hon. Member, whether it is not the fact that some of the police got their rifles by the muzzles and hit their hardest at the heads of men who were endeavouring to escape?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWell, Sir; I should think that the statement made in the last Question is not the fact; and with regard to the Question of the hon. Member (Mr. W. O'Brien), I do not mean to say that I am perfectly certain, but it is extremely probable that no disturbance occurred until the police were attacked. The disturbance then consisted of stone-throwing at the police, who were compelled to take notice of such unlawful action.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENThen do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman admits that no disturbance whatever took place, and that no stones were thrown, until upon the one side the Dragoons rode into the crowd, and upon the other side the police forced their way through them while they were peaceably listening to addresses like my own?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman is not to understand that, nor is that the inference from my answer. What I understand was the police were escorting three prisoners, and when they arrived on the scene where the crowd was standing which had been listening to the hon. Gentleman the crowd proceeded to throw stones. Under those circumstances, it appears to me that the Resident Magistrate was fully justified in acting as he did.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENWill the right hon. Gentleman give any answer as to why the force of police with a couple of prisoners should force their way through a crowd which was engaged in a per- 1142 fectly legitimate occupation? Why could not they have waited, or gone round another way?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt seems to me that the hon. Member mistakes the functions of a public highway; it is not for the purpose of enabling anyone to gather a crowd together and to make a speech, but to enable persons to get from one point to another.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENI want to know, as a matter of fact, whether any warning was given the people that they were not perfectly within their rights in standing there and listening?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe, as I have already stated, there was stone-throwing by the people; and I do not know whether, under those circumstances, any further notice is required to be given.