§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a constable of the Royal Irish Constabulary, during an eviction in Falcarragh in November last, assaulted the hon. Member for South Donegal, and refused to give his name when he was requested so to do in order that his misconduct might be reported to his superior officer; and whether, having regard to the great difficulty of identifying Royal Irish Constabulary constables by reason of their uniforms and helmets which conceal their features, and the repeated refusal of the Government to place numbers on the uniforms of this Force, he is prepared to suggest any methods by which members of the Force whose conduct is impugned may be identified?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs I am informed, no assault was committed on the hon. Member. It is the practice for constables to give their names when asked for in a proper manner.
§ MR. MACNEILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman take the statement of a constabulary officer in contradiction of that of myself and my hon. Friend? Is he aware that when I was at the Falcarragh evictions, accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield, I unintentionally entered the cordon? I was not asked to move, but was rudely jostled by the constable. I asked the constable for his name, and as he refused to give it I had to take means to identify him.
§ SIR J. SWINBURNEAnd is the Chief Secretary aware that I witnessed the assault?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am aware the fact was brought to official notice by the hon. Gentleman. If he was able to take exceptional means to identify the man I suppose he was satisfied.
§ SIR J. SWINBURNEWill the right hon. Gentleman agree to have the constables numbered in future?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir; I propose to make no change.