MR MAC NEILL, for Mr. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is a fact that an Inspector and certain other members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were drilled for several days in the use of the battering ram previous to its removal to Falcarragh; whether it is intended to make use of the battering ram in the evictions, numbering about 150, about to commence at Glashercoo and other portions of the Olphert estate; and whether the local authorities have been instructed to exclude the Member of Parliament for the district and other Members of Parliament present, as well as the representatives of the Press and the clergy, from within the cordon of Police and Military at these evictions?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary Authorities report that the matter alleged in the first paragraph of the question is not a fact. The use or otherwise of the ram at the evictions mentioned will be entirely governed by the considerations which I have already indicated in reply to former questions on the general subject. The local authorities have not received any instructions as to the steps to be taken by them to secure the due carrying out of the law and the preservation of the peace at the evictions in question, they being obviously the best judges of the necessities of the case.
MR. MAC NEILLIs it not a fact that Mr. Lawlor, a District Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary and a company of the Royal Irish Constabulary, were engaged for several days close to Falcarragh in this ram practice; and is it not a fact that I myself asked Mr. Lawlor with reference to the proficiency of his men, and he could not deny it.
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURI have given the House all the information I have. If the hon. Gentleman desires further information he must put another question on the subject.
*MR. MAC NEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to allow me, or to direct the Chief Commissioner to allow me to get a model of the battering ram to show to English audiences?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL, (Tyrone, S.)May I ask whether there is any foundation for the statement that the evictions in the Glashercoo estate numbered 150; is it not the fact that there were only 25 tenants in that estate?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURIf my memory serves me, my hon. Friend is perfectly right. The number of 150 is grossly exaggerated.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)Is it not a fact that Mr. Olphert stated in Court that he intended to evict 130 tenants?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURIf he did it would not bear out the suggestion in the question. I think his statement was in regard to his property as a whole.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREThe question refers not only to the Glashercoo estate, but to other portions of the Olphert estate, and I asked whether Mr. Olphert has not stated that he intended to evict 130 tenants.
§ MR. T. W, RUSSELLIs it not a fact that the only warrant in existence for evictions refers to the Glashercoo estate?
§ *MR. A J. BALFOURI should like to have notice of the questions. I have not supplied myself with information necessary to answer them with accuracy, but my idea is that the suggestion of my hon. Friend (Mr. Russell) is correct.