§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the Charge of Judge Harrison to the Grand Jury of the County Westmeath, in which he said—
There were only four cases to go before them. There were none of those ordinary cases of crime that would either point at any conspiracy against the ordinary rules of society or those other matters they had to lament so much in other parts of Ireland. He was told the county was in a perfectly quiet state, and of course they should all feel sincerely glad for that;whether there are extra police on duty in the County of Westmeath at the present time; whether the proportion of police stationed in that county is about one to every 237 inhabitants of Westmeath; and, whether, after Mr. Justice Harri- 22 son's Charge to the Grand Jury of Westmeath, he will recommend the Lord Lieutenant to now reduce the police force in that county?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN)(who replied) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)said: I have to reply to the first two paragraphs of the hon. Gentleman's Question in the affirmative. There is at present about one policeman to every 239 inhabitants in Westmeath. The question of the reduction of the extra police force in this county has been recently carefully considered; but the authorities who are responsible for the preservation of peace in that county are unable at present to recommend such a course, as unfortunately it is still necessary to employ a number of police on protection posts and in affording personal protection and protection by patrols.