§ MR. HAYDEN (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Murphy, of Cloontowart, a tenant on the De Freyne Estate, was arrested at 609 midnight under a warrant of an Inquiry Court, under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, brought into Loughglynn Barrack, kept there all night, and brought into Castlerea the next morning; and whether steps will be at once taken to put a stop to such proceedings?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary authorities report that the allegation in this question is unfounded. No Mrs. Murphy, of Cloontowart, was arrested.
§ MR. KELLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. John Crean was arrested at 1 o'clock in the morning on the De Freyne Estate, and brought to Castlerea; that the police refused to wait until morning, and refused to allow her husband to accompany her; has there been a warrant issued for the arrest of Mrs. Lavin, aged 75 years, whose son has been already committed to Castlebar Gaol for the seventh time; and whether these proceedings have been sanctioned by him?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary authorities report that Mrs. Crean was arrested at 2.30 a.m., not 1 a.m. as alleged in the question. The police did not refuse to wait until later in the morning; neither did the police refuse to allow Mrs. Crean's husband to accompany her; but, on the contrary, the woman herself, in the presence of the police, refused her husband's offer to do so. A warrant was, I am informed, issued to compel the attendance as a witness of Mrs. Lavin, sen., but could not be executed as she had absconded.
§ MR. HAYDENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Shaskett was recently arrested on the De Freyne Estate under an Inquiry Court warrant at midnight, and brought into Castlerea in custody, the result being that from the fright she sustained she was unable to take any food until she reached home 20 hours after; and whether the practice of making arrests at night has been sanctioned by the Government?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo woman of the name of Skaskett has been arrested; but, assuming that the case of Mrs. Sharkey is referred to, the allegations in the question are wholly inaccurate. The 610 arrest was made, not at midnight, but at 3 a.m. The woman exhibited no symptoms of fright. She partook of breakfast in her own house before she started, received a second breakfast at Castlerea upon arriving there, and which she partook of with apparent relish. Her examination as a witness was concluded at about 1.30 p.m., and she could have reached home by an hour and a half afterwards, or, in all, 12 hours from the time of her arrest. Arrests in the early hours of the morning have been rendered necessary owing to the organised attempt to impede the administration of the law.
§ MR. HAYDENDoes the right hon. Gentleman approve the arrest of old women at 3 o'clock in the morning?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf women, young or old, refuse to do what the law requires them to do, and deliberately evade arrest during ordinary hours, I am afraid they must accept the consequences, even if unpleasant.
§ MR. O'KELLYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not these people were summoned before being arrested?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNobody can be arrested until after being summoned.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman issue instructions that in cases of this kind summonses shall be issued in the first instance before having recourse to arrest?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf persons are arrested because they refuse to give evidence before Inquiry Courts, they and those who encourage them in resisting the law are alone to blame.
§ MR. SEXTONI must press this point. Will the right hon. Gentleman secure that summonses shall be issued?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI assure hon. Gentlemen that no undue severity has been used.
§ MR. O'KELLYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of women have been arrested without a summons upon warrant, and at midnight?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have already stated with, I think, sufficient clearness that no undue severity has been or should be used; but undoubtedly if there is a conspiracy to refuse to give evidence in a case where a criminal offence has been committed it is absolutely 611 necessary for the police to use all the powers vested in them.
§ MR. SEXTONAre we to interpret the right hon. Gentleman's declaration in the sense that the right hon. Gentleman will see that the women are summoned, and not arrested at unseasonable hours?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt is perfectly clear that the expedient of arresting women at any time, especially at 3 o'clock in the morning, ought not to be resorted to except in cases of necessity. I am undoubtedly at one with the hon. Gentleman on that point.
§ MR. O'KELLYWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that summonses are issued and the arrests made at proper hours of the day?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. HAYDENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Edward Egan, an old man 70 years of age, of Carreenturpane, was arrested under an Inquiry Court warrant at midnight, and brought into Castlerea; that, after Mr. Egan returned, the priest had to be sent for to anoint him; and that he is now in a dying state, owing to the shock and the exposure of the night to which he was subjected; and whether the practice of making arrests at night has been sanctioned by the Government?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary authorities report that Edward Egan was arrested at 3.15 a.m. It is the case that the priest was sent for, and anointed Egan. But the man has not been attended by any doctor, and is not, as a matter of fact, in a dying state.
§ MR. HAYDENWere not these proceedings taken at the instance of the brother-in-law of Lord Zetland?