§ MR. CAREW (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can explain why Mr. Nash, the Secretary of the Norwich Liberal Association, on his visit last week to the Clongorey Estate, in the County Kildare, was shadowed by the police all the way between New bridge and Clongorey; also, whether he is aware that the constable who followed the Rev. Mr. Macrae, and who was alleged to have been engaged on other business than shadowing, pursued the Rev. Mr. Macrae the whole length of his journey, stopping whenever he stopped, and immediately resuming his journey when the rev. gentleman moved on; and, if so, whether he still adheres to his statement that he was not shadowed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary Authorities report that a stranger having been observed driving with the President of the local branch of the National League in the direction of the Clongorey Estate, two policemen subsequently proceeded to the estate to ascertain if an illegal meeting was being held. The police, as a matter of fact, did not overtake them on the road, and appear to have travelled by a different route. It does not appear that Mr. Macrae was shadowed, or even observed, during the whole of his journey. How far he was followed on a bicycle during any part of his journey I do not know, but am inquiring. It must be 42 recollected that the Plan of Campaign and intimidation in their worst form are frequently promoted by strangers to the district in which they occur. If these crimes are prevalent in any particular locality the police are obviously- quite right to take sufficient note of the movement of strangers to enable them to interfere should it be necessary in the interest of the victims of these outrages. This is not shadowing, nor does it inflict the slightest annoyance on anyone.
§ MR. CLANCYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Macrae has publicly stated that the policeman did follow him as stated in the question? What was the crime of which the Rev. Mr. Macrae was suspected?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have already stated that he was not suspected of any crime.
§ MR. CLANCYIf he was not suspected, why was he shadowed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI read with great slowness and distinctness that part of my answer which dealt with the hon. Member's question.
§ MR. W. REDMONDIs the fact that a gentleman was a stranger in a district sufficient to warrant the police in dogging his footsteps?
§ *MR. JOHNSTONDo not the police follow persons for the purpose of protection?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURCertainly the police often have to follow for protection purposes. As to the other question, in the first place, there is not a case, as far as I know, in any part of Ireland of a stranger having his footsteps dogged. It is, and must remain, the case in Ireland in those parts where the Plan of Campaign and intimidation exist, that any person who it is thought possible may encourage those forms of crime should be watched.
§ MR. W. REDMONDWhat grounds have the authorities in Ireland for supposing that Mr. Nash would be capable of encouraging such forms of intimidation and crime? Was there anything in the world against him except that he was a stranger?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no doubt that the gentleman is a model of every Christian virtue, but I have explained to the House the reasons that compel the authorities in some parts of Ireland to take notice of strangers.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)The other day the right hon. Gentleman stated that no persons were shadowed unless there was sufficient reason to suspect that they were guilty of crime or were intending to commit some crime. Does the right hon. Gentleman adhere to that statement in view of the answer he has given with reference to the Rev. Mr. Macrae?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, Sir; but I also said that Mr. Macrao was not shadowed.
§ MR. CAUSTON (Southwark, W.)Would it not be desirable to lay down some rule or establish some office in Dublin where respectable persons could find out whether they would be shadowed or not?
§ MR. W. REDMOND"Will the Government consider the advisability of issuing passports?
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the following letter appearing in the Pall Mail Gazette of 24th June:—
Mrs. Edith G. Overend, sister-in-law of the rector of Euniskillen, writes,' I find some of the customs of this country very strange. I am here on a visit from New Zealand, and I am not two days in town till the police have been making inquiries about me, even in such a public place as a bank, as if I were an escaped convict, or suspected of a felony.' … I am a Protestant; and while my politics should not deprive me of the liberties of a citizen, they are not Nationalist, for being a colonist, I know little of Irish controversy;'…whether there is any reason to believe that Mrs. Overend is engaged in criminal proceedings; and whether the Government will issue orders to the police to ensure that this lady shall not be subjected to the shadowing of which she complains?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThere is no foundation for the supposition that this lady has been placed under any sort of surveillance. She appealed to the police, as a stranger in the town, to direct her to respectable lodgings, where she could be visited by her brother-in-law, the rector of the parish. On the following day the rector told the police that he had heard of the lady's arrival, and he asked them if they knew where she was staying. This they endeavoured to ascertain, as she had not gone to the 44 lodging recommended. The inquiry was made solely to oblige the rector, and had no public significance of any kind.
§ MR. W. REDMONDThe right hon. Gentleman has stated there is no ground for asserting that the lady was under police surveillance. I have here a telegram from the lady in which she describes the conduct of the police as abominable, and asking me to ascertain who instructed them to watch her. I have also received a letter from Enniskillen, stating on the best authority that the police did follow this lady, and were instructed to do so. Will the right hon. Gentleman now make further inquiries?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI gather that the police did not follow her; but if the lady will communicate with me directly, or indirectly through the hon. Member, I will inquire as to any specific allegations.
§ MR. W. REDMONDAfter this answer I give notice that I shall advise the lady to hold no communication with the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. FLYNNI 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. BALFOURI must ask the hon. Member to defer this question till Monday.