§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is true that three young girls were summoned, on Monday, the 11th instant, by Sergeant Dolan, of Fermoy, for booing at the sergeant and his men while leaving Coulagown chapel, and making uncomplimentary allusions to Mr. Balfour; whether the only exclamation towards the sergeant complained of was one of the girls calling him "Smiler," his Fermoy nom de plume; whether the chairman, Colonel Deane, and the other magistrates present, dismissed the cases, stating that he hoped no further attempts would be made by the female population of Fermoy to scandalize the Government; and whether steps will be taken to prevent similar prosecutions in future?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary authorities report that the three women summoned on the occasion in question were not young girls. One was an elderly woman, and the others aged about 25 and 18 years respec- 538 tively, nor were they summoned on the innocent ground alleged in the second paragraph. Sunday after Sunday the police upon leaving the chapel after Divine Service had been mobbed by a number of women and boys who followed them along the road, hooting them, calling them bloodhounds, murderers, and using towards them obscene expressions. For this disgraceful conduct, which has become intolerable, Sergeant Power summoned the three women, as the ringleaders, to give bail for future good behaviour. At Petty Sessions, these defendants having expressed regret, were let off with a caution, the Chairman, Colonel Deane, warning them that if there was a repetition of the conduct, they would be severely dealt with.