§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether a complaint of moonlighting has been brought against a policeman named Palmer, stationed at Shanballymore, near Tipperary; whether it is true, as alleged, that Palmer, under cover of night, 218 attacked the cottage of a poor widow named Corbett, breaking all the glass and sashes in the front and back windows; that Palmer, on being told to desist by Mrs. Corbett, replied "that if she came out he would shoot her," and endeavoured also to burst in the door; and that he attacked and broke the windows at the house of Mr. William Burke at Boheraveedrum, of Michael Bryan and Mr. John Trehy; and whether any steps will be taken to prevent similar occurrences in and around Tipperary?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have had no time to receive a special Report on the complaint against the policeman Palmer, but from a Report previously received on the same subject it appears that there are serious charges pending against the constable before the Magistrate. In the meantime, he is, of course, suspended from duty.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I would ask whether it is true that on the occasion here referred to the house of a man was attacked at night, that the man jumped out of bed, and pursued the person who had broken the windows of the house, and found him to be a constable, and that the man and his wife took the constable to the police station? Is it true that a number of outrages of the same kind have recently been committed in the district; and, as the right hon. Gentleman, in a recent speech in this House, made the commission of outrages an excuse for the suppression of public meetings in the district, will he institute a special inquiry into the question of the source and origin of these outrages?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think there can be any doubt as to the origin of the outrages committed, but I will inquire, if the hon. Member wishes me to. As the constable's case is sub judice it would not be right for me to interfere further at present.