MR. MAC NEILLI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that the Irish Constabulary, when serving in the cities of Ireland, have numbers on the uniforms like the Metropolitan Police, for 211 the purposes of identification, and to the admission made by him that when members of the Irish Constabulary are removed from cities to country places, the numbers are taken from their uniforms; and, having also regard to the fact that constables of the Irish Constabulary have on several occasions declined to give their names when requested so to do, by persons who wished to report their conduct to the authorities, he will take steps to have the practice of putting numbers on the uniforms of the Constabulary identical both in cities and country districts of Ireland?
§ MR. MADDENIn reply to this question, I must refer the hon. Member to previous answers to the subject in November and December, 1889, and May, 1890. I may add that it is the custom of the police to give their names upon a reasonable request being made.
MR. MAC NEILLIs it not the fact that members of the Constabulary have committed assaults and then refused to give their names? As a matter of fact, a constable at the Falcarragh evictions assaulted me and declined to give his name.
§ MR. MADDENIf the hon. and learned Member suggests that there have been any particular variations from the custom which I have mentioned, and will give a definite notice, I will make inquiry.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Does the custom of refusing to give a name rest upon an instruction from head quarters?
§ MR. MADDENI am not aware that there have been any instructions.
MR. MAC NEILLDo the Government distinctly refuse to have the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary numbered? In May last, constables were taken to Waterford and numbered, but the numbers were deliberately taken off subsequently, and the men engaged in a baton charge.
§ MR. MADDENI must refer to the previous answers which I have mentioned in regard to that question.