HC Deb 15 November 1888 vol 330 cc1225-7
DR. FITZGERALD (Longford, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that a meeting assembled in the town of Longford, to welcome the hon. Member for East Clare (Mr. Cox), on the evening of Saturday the 3rd instant, was forcibly dispersed without any notice or warning by the police, under the command of County Inspector Milling; whether Mr. Milling threatened the people that if they did not leave the streets within two minutes he would disperse them with a vengeance; and, whether this is the Mr. Milling who was returned for trial by the magistrates of the City of Cork some time ago for an assault upon the hon. Member for Mid Cork (Dr. Tanner); and, if so, whether he was brought to trial?

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

It is the case that a meeting which was attempted to be held in the streets of Longford at about 11.30 o'clock on the night of Saturday, November 3, was required to disperse by the police, commanded by the County Inspector, who acted under orders from the Divisional Magistrate. This meeting was attempted in the face of a Proclamation prohibiting the holding of a meeting at an adjacent place on the following day (Sunday), an information having been sworn that it would lead to intimidation and to interference with the administration of the law. Mr. Milling was the County Inspector in charge of the police; but he did not threaten the people. My reply to the first inquiry in the third paragraph is in the affirmative; but no trial took place, for the Attorney General of the day was of opinion that there was no evidence to support the case, and ordered a nolle prosequi.

MR. COX (Clare, E.)

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to state that the County Inspector asked the people to disperse before he ordered the police to attack them?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I gather that there was no attack made by them.

MR. COX

Well, I was present a that meeting; and I may inform the right hon. Gentleman that there was most deliberate and wanton attack mada by the police.

MR. HANDEL COSSHAM (Bristol, E.)

I also was one of the victims on that occasion.

MR. LANE (Cork Co., E.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it was not a fact that Mr. Milling, who was a District Inspector at the time he assaulted Dr. Tanner, has since been promoted to be a County Inspector?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not aware of that.