§ MR. CAREW (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the following statement in the Daily News of 20th February:—
Twenty-nine more workmen were arrested to-day in Clongorey for building houses for the shelter of evicted tenants. The arrests were effected by a force of 100 policemen, and the prisoners were brought handcuffed to Newbridge, and were detained in the Bridewell until 6 o'clock, when they were discharged under bail to appear at Newbridge Petty Sessions to-morrow week. The district has been greatly excited by these arrests;whether it is a fact that on a previous day 14 other tradesmen and labourers engaged in similar work were, with Mr. Everett, their foreman, arrested and brought to Newbridge police barrack; whether these men at the time of their arrest were working on land from which tenants had been previously evicted, or on land still in occupation of tenants; why were they handcuffed, or did they show any disposition to evade arrest; and on what ground or by whose authority were the forces of the Crown so employed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have asked for information, but I have not yet succeeded in obtaining it.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)What was the charge against these men, and what authority had the police for arresting them?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will cause inquiry to be made.