HC Deb 08 March 1889 vol 333 cc1275-6
MR. CONDON (Tipperary, E.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is true that, on the arrival of Dr. Tanner on Sunday morning last in Clonmel, a reporter of the Tipperary Nationalist sought admission to the railway station in his professional capacity, and was refused by the police; that he asked for the name of the sergeant in charge, and was also refused and told "to go to the devil"; and that, immediately after, the police charged and bâtoned him, inflicting several wounds; whether it is true that the policeman who committed the assault was fined 21s. at the Clonmel Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, 6th March; and, what notice the Government intends to take of this policeman's conduct?

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Constable Doyle, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, was fined 20s. and coats by the magistrates at Clonmel for unnecessarily using his bâton in Clonmel on the 3rd March, on the occasion of the arrival there of the hon. Member for Mid-Cork?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Constabulary authorities report that it is the case that on the arrival of Dr. Tanner at Clonmel a cordon of police, which was keeping back a disorderly crowd, refused admitance to a reporter of the Tipperary Nationalist, as they could not let him through without giving an opportunity for others to force their way in also. The two sergeants in charge denied that they refused their names, or heard any offensive expression used to the reporter. The police did not charge until they were severely struck with stones, one constable being knocked down insensible. The reporter appears to have received a blow in the charge, but it is not true that a policeman was fined in respect to it. A man who was arrested in another part of the town, when in the act of picking up a stone, and who resisted arrest, was in the mêlee struck with a bâton. For this he summoned Constable Doyle, who was fined in the Borough Court, from which, however, he has appealed.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how it is the police took upon themselves the right to exclude persons from the railway station? Does the railway station belong to the police, or is it not private property belonging to a Limited Liability Company?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The police have a right to prevent a disorderly mob entering the railway station upon an occasion like that referred to in the Question.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Does the railway station belong to the police, or to a Company?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have no official knowledge as to whom it belongs to.