§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the evening of Saturday, 26th October, Mr. Hewson, the agent of the Olphert Estate, accompanied with five emergency men, set fire to four houses in the town land of Drumnatinny, near Falcarragh, from which four tenants named Edward M'Ginley, Dan Terry, Edward Barry, and James M'Ginley had been evicted at the suit of Mr. Olphert, and on the evening of Sunday, 27th October, the same gentleman, with the like assistance, set fire to the house in the same town-land from which Daniel Ferry had been evicted; whether he is aware that when the thatched roofs of the houses had been burnt, Mr. Hewson and the emergency men proceeded to demolish the walls; whether he is aware that a force of Royal Irish Constabulary accompanied Mr. Hewson and the emergency men on these expeditions; and, by whose orders were the forces of the Crown employed for the protection and assistance of Mr. Olphert's agent?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand that four houses were destroyed by the agent. He was not receiving police protection, but there were four policemen, as usual, accompanying the caretakers who were present on the occasion.
§ MR. MACNEILLMay I ask whether after an eviction has taken place the Government authorise the police to join with emergency men in the destruction of property?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe question of the hon. Member relates to proceedings which occurred on two separate days. Certain houses were destroyed on the first day, and the burning took place on the second. I have no reason to believe that the police assisted the emergency men in destroying the property.
§ MR. MACNEILLDid they not go to protect the caretakers in the burning and destruction of the property?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe they did not.