§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if there is any truth in the statement that Detective Officer James E. French received money to the extent of several thousand pounds from the Constabulary Force Fund; and, if so, how much, and for what reason; whether Mr. J. E. French's costs in the action brought against him by William O'Brien, Esq., M.P., were defrayed from this fund, either wholly or in part; and, if so, what the expenditure under this head was; and what sum was paid Mr. J. E. French for his public services, and whether any of this money came from the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund?
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)May I ask the Chief Secretary to state at the same time whether the costs in the action brought by Mr. William O'Brien against 1075 the Marquess of Salisbury have been defrayed from any fund?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)The Constabulary authorities report that the statement in the first paragraph of this question is wholly unfounded. The reply to the inquiry in the second paragraph is a negative. Mr. French received only the pay and allowances attached to the positions he held in the Force and voted annually by Parliament. The sole grants received by him from the Constabulary Force Fund were obtained by him when serving in Belfast in 1870 and 1871, being rewards of £20 and £10 respectively given on the recommendation of the Reward Board for good police service.