§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rev. J. Brown, C.C. of Ramsgrange, County Wexford, has received a communication from the Resident Magistrate of the district, informing him that he would be followed by the police if he did not refrain from holding meetings of the National League; and whether, in pursuance of this threat, it is true that a police constable followed Father Brown into the house of a dying woman; and, if so, whether the police acted in accordance with their instructions; and 801 whether this part of the County Wexford is quite free from crime?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETART FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I am informed that the communication referred to in the question was made, not by the Resident Magistrate, but by the Divisional Commissioner. It was to the effect that the rev. gentleman would be watched if he did not refrain from holding unlawful meetings. That part of the County Wexford is free from crime classed in the Returns as agrarian. Whether it is free from intimidation or other illegal conspiracies I cannot say without further inquiry.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)A criminal prosecution having failed against this rev. gentleman, is it desirable that he should be spied upon and followed by the police?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI presume that the usual course has been followed where a person is suspected of holding illegal meetings.
§ MR. W. REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman in possession of evidence that this gentleman has been engaged in holding illegal meetings; and, if so, why have not proceedings been taken against him in the ordinary way? Why should his life be rendered miserable by the police dogging him about day after day?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot say whether this gentleman has not persisted in holding illegal meetings or not.