HC Deb 01 July 1889 vol 337 cc1143-4
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, by whose orders Mr. Myles Smith, of Glascarrig, county Wexford, and a number of other people, were followed and watched by the police in Gorey, on the 22nd of this month, as reported in the papers; whether it is true that several policemen followed a man, named Patrick Greene, to the offices of Mr. Scott, solicitor, Gorey, and demanded to be admitted while Greene was in Mr. Scott's office; whether it is true that, when Mr. Scott asked for an explanation of this conduct, that the police informed him that they were acting under orders in following Greene, even into his solicitor's house; whether there is any charge against Greene, and the other men, who were followed by the police in Gorey; by what right the police entered Mr. Scott's office contrary to his desire; whether he is aware that Mr. Scott has lost clients in consequence of the police entering his house while people were there to see him on professional business; and, whether the Irish Government will take some steps to prevent the police from entering private houses in Ireland without authority?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The police authorities reported that Myles Smith, Patrick Greene, and several others, banded together under the name of vigilance men, have engaged in boycotting and intimidating certain tenants who had taken evicted farms. The police were watching their movements, with a view to proceedings against them. It was not the case that several policemen followed them into the house, but two policemen did so. They, however, waited in the hall at the request of Mr. Scott. Later on Greene and another person visited the office, and Mr. Scott requested the police not to enter, a request with which they complied. The information which has been supplied to me does not sustain the allegation that Mr. Scott had lost clients thereby.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Have the police endeavoured arbitrarily to intrude into Mr. Scott's offices while that gentleman was engaged with the tenants, his clients? Will the right hon. Gentleman say that the police had a right to force their way into his offices?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not prepared to say that the police did force their way into Mr. Scott's office.

MR. SEXTON

At any rate they went into his house.

MR. W. REDMOND

May I ask why, if it is true that Mr. Scott and other persons banded themselves together for an illegal purpose, they have not been proceeded against in the ordinary course?

* MR. SPEAKER

That is a question requiring Notice.

MR. W. REDMOND

Then I beg to give Notice that I will repeat it.