HC Deb 12 May 1892 vol 4 cc700-1
MR. SEXTON (for Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIEN,) Cork Co., N.E.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the police were upon last Sunday week, for the second time, furnished with copies of proclamations to be used in suppressing any attempt of the hon. Member for North Cork to address his constituents at Ballyclough; and by what right the police swear informations as to the date and object of particular meetings, of which no public announcement is made, and use those informations for the purpose of exercising a general right of suppressing public meetings in a district?

MR. JACKSON

The Police Authorities, having reason to believe that private arrangements were being made to hold a meeting on the 5th inst., with the same object as that connected with a meeting fixed for the previous Sunday and suppressed—namely, the denouncing and intimidation of certain persons who had taken evicted farms—the responsible authorities forthwith took the necessary steps to prevent such illegal meeting being held.

MR. SEXTON

I desire to know whether the Irish Government claim the right on information with regard to a particular meeting to prevent all meetings in that district whatever their object.

MR. JACKSON

In regard to both meetings, the Authorities acted on information as to each. I think there can be no question about what was intended to be done, because I find the Cork Examiner, in the report of a meeting which had been held, reported that the chairman, in opening the proceedings, said he thought nothing could be of greater importance than the holding of that meeting, which was called for the purpose of denouncing land grabbing. He was speaking the truth in stating that notwithstanding the force on the ground they had successfully held their meeting. The importance of that meeting could not be gainsaid, inasmuch as one of the most glaring cases of land grabbing which had occurred for a period of ten years had taken place in their midst.

MR. SEXTON

Do the Government upon a political speech assume the character of any political meeting summoned in the district?

MR. JACKSON

No, Sir. I am speaking of the report of a speech which was delivered after the proceedings had taken place. The opinion they had as to the holding of the meeting was, I believe, correct; indeed, it was proved to be correct by the subsequent proceedings.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

Is that the kind of evidence upon which the Government are prepared to interfere in Ireland with the right of public meeting?

MR. JACKSON

I am not confined to that evidence. I had sworn evidence before the meeting took place.