§ MR. LANE (Cork Co., E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that Patrick Ahern, who was killed in the town of Midleton by a bayonet wound inflicted by a policeman on the evening of Thursday, 1st November, swore in his dying deposition that he was not aware of any disturbance taking place until he was stabbed by the policeman; whether his attention has been called to the report that Ahern, after being stabbed, was pushed along the street, thrown down, and beaten by the police; that District Inspector Creaghe ordered the police to charge the people with fixed bayonets, notwithstanding the reiterated protest of the Rev. Father O'Donoghue that there was no justification of such conduct, as the disturbance was over; and that District Inspector Creaghe refused to allow Mr. E. Hallinan, J.P., and Mr. J. P. Leahy, solicitor for the next of kin, to inspect the weapons of the police for the purpose of identification of Ahern's assailant; and, whether Mr. Creaghe and the 640 policemen engaged in the assault will be suspended pending an inquiry into their conduct?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, it would be manifestly improper to discuss in that House the circumstances of the case alluded to, pending the termination of the Coroner's inquest. His reply to the last paragraph of the Question was in the negative.