§ MR. DEASY(for Mr. HOOPER) (Cork, S.E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a baton charge of policemen was ordered by Colonel Caddell, Resident Magistrate, Kinsale, on Saturday last, in which several persons, including an aged hunchback, were seriously injured; what was the justification for the order to charge; whether the people received any warning before the charge was made on them, and, if so, what warning; whether Colonel Caddell left the judicial seat to head the baton men; and, what special circumstances exist in the case of Colonel Caddell to entitle him to take charge of a civil force, while a civilian Resident Magistrate (Mr. Cronin), his senior in the service of the Irish Executive, was present?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) said (Dublin University)I am informed that on the occasion in question a large crowd of some 500 persons had assembled outside the Court House while the trial of three men for committing a serious assault on the police was proceeding there. After the trial was over the crowd became very disorderly, and its demeanour most threatening. The Resident Magistrate called upon the crowd to disperse, and, having warned them without effect, he ordered the police to disperse them. This was done. No unnecessary force was used, and, so far as can be ascertained, no one was injured. The Resident Magistrate did not leave the Bench to take charge of the police. The Petty Sessions Court was over at the time, and it was in consequence of the conviction of the three prisoners referred to that the crowd became hostile. Mr. Cronin was unable to remain at Kinsale, and the duty of the taking charge of the police 591 had been, therefore, assigned to Colonel Caddell.