§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of persons "shadowed" in Ireland, and the number "watched" by the police, and the number of policemen engaged in these operations?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I cannot give a definite answer to this question. The number of persons whom it is considered necessary to keep under supervision and the number of police engaged on such duty vary from day to day.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYCan the right hon. Gentleman give a Return of the names and addresses of persons who have been shadowed since he came into office, and the causes of the shadowing? I do not think there will be any objection on the part of these people to have their names given.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI fear it would be impracticable to obtain such a Return.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYDid the right hon. Gentleman say it was impracticable or objectionable?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI must have notice of the question. I should think it would be impracticable.
§ MR. M. J. KENNY (Tyrone, Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the Order contained in page 212 of the Police Code, issued in 1881, by the then head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard, in which it is laid down that, "in keeping observation on suspected persons, great care must be taken that attention is not attracted:" if the police in Tipperary have recently adopted a contrary system, persistently following and obtruding their presence on certain subjects of Her Majesty in such a manner as to amount at Common Law to an "unlawful setting upon one's person;" and if the police in this matter act under any statutory authority; and, if not, whether a case will be submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown, in order to ascertain the legality or otherwise of this practice?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have not seen the Order in question. No doubt, in many cases of suspected persons the watching would be more effectual if it could be done without attracting attention. I am advised that the police have not acted illegally, and no new practice has been established.
§ DR. KENNYIs not shadowing of the nature which has been described calculated to lead to a breach of the peace?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think that it is.