§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that no fewer than 12 families, tenants of Mr. Orr, in the townland of Letterilly, near Glenties, in county Donegal, have been decreed in ejectment processes with heavy costs, and are now about to be evicted from their holdings; and whether, having regard to the fact of the extreme poverty of these tenants, who promised severally before these ejectment proceedings to pay immediately the full rent for two years up to May, 1892, and were ready and willing to fulfil that promise, he will decline to allow Forces of the Crown to be employed in the eviction of these tenants?
§ MR. JACKSONI am informed that decrees have been issued for the ejectment of the tenants on the estate mentioned, but I have no official knowledge of the circumstances referred to in the second paragraph. The Government cannot undertake to withhold police protection from sheriffs and bailiffs in the due execution of the law.
§ MR. MACNEILLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if I am able to prove that the tenants here are willing to pay two years' rent and that it is a mere question of the costs of the land agent, he will consider the question of allowing the employment of the Forces of the Crown in the extermination of these poor people?
§ MR. JACKSONI am afraid, Sir, I am not fitted to act as arbitrator between the parties concerned.
§ MR. MACNEILLI must again press the right hon. Gentleman. Will he not allow the police of the town to be employed? It is in his option to do so. The President of the Board of Trade refused the use of the Forces of the Crown on similar occasions.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!