§ MR. JOHN KELLY (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the report in the Evening Standard of the 7th instant, that on the previous day, while the people were attending mass at Scartaglin, a party of moonlighters visited the house of a farmer, named Patrick Nolan, of Knockour, and severely beat a little girl, who was the only person in the house at the time; and whether any of the persons engaged in this alleged outrage on this little girl have been arrested?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)The Constabulary Authorities report that it is the case that three men armed, and one of them partly disguised, came to Nolan's house on Sunday during Mass. The man's daughter was not beaten. She ran out of the house when she saw the armed party approaching. They fired shots into the house, breaking a clock and other articles. The motive is believed to have been to compel Nolan to leave the service of a person by whom he has been employed. No arrests have been made.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWould the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to use his influence to get the newspaper that supports him—the Standard—to withdraw the blackguard attacks it has made on Members of this House?
§ MR. E. HARRINGTONIs it not the fact that there was nothing but the statement of the child to warrant the story?
§ [No answer was given.]