§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that Mr. P. D. Kenny, of Birmingham, lately shadowed in Ireland by the police, writes to the Daily News, saying that— 1607
Politics are no part of his business," denying "that he belongs to the National League of Great Britain," or "that he gave any one authority to describe him as about to attend an Irish meeting," and adding "that there was no reason in fact for the conduct of the police:and whether, in view of these statements, he has any further information to communicate to the House as to this case?
§ *MR. MADDENI must ask the hon. Gentleman to postpone the question.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that one Patrick Burke, who has for years sat in a street in Tipperary engaged in the occupation of repairing boots and shoes, has been of late and is now being obliged to leave his usual place of sitting owing to policemen standing near him and pretending that he was working for them; that Burke, having removed to an archway near New Tipperary, was again so shadowed by policemen that for nine weeks he got no work, and was obliged to apply to the Poor Law Guardians for relief; that having returned to his former position three policemen placed themselves between him and Mr. P. Fitzgerald, of Tipperary, who wanted to approach Burke on business; whether, when Mr. Fitzgerald sent a messenger to Burke, the messenger was ordered "to get out of that" by the police; and what is the reason for this interference of the police with Burke in earning his livelihood?
§ *MR. MADDENI am informed that owing to complaints made to the police by some boycotted shopkeepers that the man referred to in the question while working near their shops took part in promoting the boycotting under which they were suffering, his movements were watched by the police, but that it is not the case that when he removed to another part of the town he was watched. The police at no time interfered with persons talking to the man unless they were obstructing the pathway. They have no information as to the particular incident referred to in the second paragraph, but if a date be given further inquiry will be made.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the reports in the Cork papers, from which it appears that two brothers, Edmond and David Kent, were at Fermoy 1608 fair on 6th instant, engaged in selling some lambs, when a constable came and "shadowed" David Kent for a considerable time; that this man, David Kent, then went and stood beside District Inspector Ball, and followed the Inspector about the fair, he himself being followed meanwhile by the constable; that District Inspector Ball spoke to Mr. Kent, and said, "if you persist in following me I will have you arrested," and that Kent replied that he had been prevented from doing his business by the constable shadowing him, and that if the Inspector withdrew the constable he would not follow the Inspector; if it is true, as reported, that the Inspector thereupon ordered the shadowing constable to arrest Mr. Kent, who was kept in custody from 9 a.m. until 3.30, and then summoned; and whether he can state under what authority was Mr. Kent arrested, and why was he shadowed in the manner described?
§ *MR. MADDENThe hearing of the charge against the man referred to appears to have been fixed for to-day, and the case is, therefore, so far as I am aware, still sub judice. It would, therefore, be improper for me to enter into a discussion of the facts.