HC Deb 08 March 1888 vol 323 cc591-2
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a Question of which I have given him private Notice—Whether it is true that a large force of extra police and military has been suddenly drafted into the town of Youghal; and, if so, with what object?

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

I have no official information about the extra police being drafted into Youghal; but as a meeting in Youghal has been proclaimed, whose object was to celebrate the death of Hanlon in an encounter between the police and the people, it is possible that the police authority thought it was necessary to take precautions to preserve the peace, and that is the fact to which the hon. Gentleman alludes.

MR. DILLON

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House on what grounds the Government acted?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

As the object of the meeting was to celebrate the anniversary of the encounter between the people and the police, the hon. Gentleman will see that the object was not calculated to preserve the peace.