HC Deb 20 June 1889 vol 337 cc315-6
DR. KENNY (Cork, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that evictions took place on the 18th instant at Gurtroe, near Youghal, county Cork, and that on that occasion Colonel Caddell ordered the police to break by force, and against the protest of the owner, Canon Keller, into the chapel grounds at Gurtroe, and that the police, in obeying the order, broke the railings surrounding the grounds, and refused to leave when requested to do so by Canon Keller and when he and Mr. Lane, M.P., asked for the names of the members of the police force who had broken into the grounds, the officer in charge refused to give them whether Captain Plunkett, when applied to by Canon Keller to remove the police from the grounds, his private property, refused to comply with the request; whether the conduct on the part of those in charge of the police was sanctioned by the Irish Government; whether there is any legal warrant for the police to so break into private premises in which no illegal act was being at the time committed; and whether he will inquire into the matter, and give such orders as will in future prevent the occurrence of such proceedings?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have not yet obtained the information necessary to enable me to answer the question. The hon. Gentleman was good enough to send me an intimation that he would ask a question, but he did not say what the question was.

DR. KENNY

I stated in my note that it referred to the evictions at Gurtroe. I thought that that was quite sufficient.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The nature of the question was only stated in general terms without specific details.

MR. SEXTON

There are other matters into which I hope the right hon. Gentleman will also make inquiry —namely, whether Captain Plunkett caused an assault to be committed on the parish priest by the police, and whether it is a fact that a stranger who accompanied the police, and was believed to be an agent of the Castle, insulted one of four girls who resided with their mother in one of these houses by asking her to kiss him? I wish to know whether the Government approve of such ruffianly conduct?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I must ask for notice of the question.

DR. KENNY

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to answer my question to-morrow?

MR, A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot say that.