HC Deb 15 March 1888 vol 323 cc1287-8
MR. W. ABRAHAM (Limerick, W.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will investigate the charges of stone throwing and window breaking made against Head Constable Stephenson and other policemen, and sworn to by several independent and unimpeached witnesses at a special meeting of the Limerick Town Council, held on the 9th of February, to consider applications for £4 and £10 compensation for windows broken on the 27th November, on the occasion of the suppressed "Manchester Martyrs" Meeting; and, whether his attention has been called to the following question put to Mr. Brady by Mr. Justice Holmes when the case came before him at the Limerick Assizea— Did they (the police) throw the stones deliberately at the hotel windows? and to the reply of the witness— They did, my Lord, and at our windows; and to the following remarks of Mr. Justice Holmes in dismissing all the applications for compensation, on the ground that they did not come within the meaning of the Act— They had got the evidence of the ladies that the police threw the stones, for what reason it was difficult to understand, but he should take the ladies' statement for it; that was in other words, that men, not ' rioters,' not engaged in a ' tumultuous assembly,' but brought there by their officers, took it into their heads to throw stones and break the windows. The application did not come within the meaning of the Act; the police were not engaged in ' unlawful and riotous ' assembly; and for the same reason as in the former cases he should make a like rule and refuse the application.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said, it appeared that a serious riot occurred in Limerick on the occasion referred to in the Question. The police were attacked, and stones, bricks, and hammers thrown at them from housetops and windows. On the 9th of February the Town Council met to consider claims for malicious injury arising out of the riot. The Town Council rejected all the claims except two for windows alleged to have been broken by the police. Only two witnesses swore that they saw Head Constable Stephenson break the windows. The two cases were adjourned before the Judge of Assize. Several witnesses swore that they saw the police break the windows; but the two who had sworn they saw Head Constable Stephenson do it were not produced. The District Inspector reported that the report of the Judge's words set forth in the Question were fairly correct. It was quite possible the District Inspector also reported that stones might have been thrown by the police, as stones were thrown at them from the housetops.