§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he has seen a report of the meeting of the Cashel Town Commissioners on Tuesday last at the Town Hall; and whether it is true, as reported, that at the commencement of the proceedings, the door of the Board room was pushed in by Sergeant Hegarty and four other policemen, and, upon being asked to leave, the sergeant refused, on the ground that he was "ordered to watch members of the National League;" and, if so, is the action of the policemen sanctioned by the authorities?
§ MR. MADDENThe constabulary authorities report that it is not the case that the sergeant mentioned pushed in the door of the Board room nor that he refused to leave. The facts are, that having seen a number of members of the committee of the local branch of the National League, which was suppressed in that district as an unlawful association, enter the Commissioners' room in the Town Hall, where the League meetings were usually held, he knocked at the door, which was opened from inside, to ascertain whether a League meeting was about to be held. Upon being informed by the chairman that it was a meeting of the Commissioners he at once withdrew.
§ * MR. FLYNNDid the police act under instructions, and can they on mere suspicion enter private premises against the wish of the occupiers?
§ * MR. MADDENI have stated that, under the belief that a meeting of the suppressed League was about to be held, they knocked at the door, which was opened to them, and when they were informed that a meeting of the Commissioners was being held they went away.
§ * MR. MADDENNo, I infer that he did not, from the statement that when he was informed that it was a meeting of the Commissioners he at once withdrew.