MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord 451 Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rev. W. H. O'Kelly, a parish priest of New York City, and Mr. Patrick B. Egan, merchant in the same city, and native of Woodford, County Galway, were shadowed by police through Cork on the 10th instant, and that one of the constables, who gave his name as Murphy, followed Mr. Egan from Cork to his house in Woodford; and whether he will give instructions to the police not to subject visitors to Ireland to such treatment in future?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The Constabulary Authorities report that it is the case that the movements of P. B. Egan are watched in consequence of information in the possession of the police; but that it is not the case that those of the rev. gentleman named have been. The police have been acting in the proper discharge of their duty.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what number of persons are now being shadowed by policemen in the County of Cork, or if he can give the number so shadowed for the first fortnight of this month?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe question was answered yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Attorney General for Ireland. I have nothing to add to his reply.
§ MR. FLYNNIs there any distinction drawn between persons "shadowed".and persons "temporarily observed" by the police; or is it only a difference of degree?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThere is undoubtedly a difference between shadowing and a general observation.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)Does it depend upon the distance at which the constable watches the person observed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir; shadowing is an operation which may be carried on permanently or temporarily.