HC Deb 16 May 1892 vol 4 cc960-1
MR. HAYDEN, for Mr. NOLAN (Louth, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on what grounds the meeting called by the Evicted Tenants' Association, to be held on the 1st May last at Inniscarra, was proclaimed by the Irish Government?

*MR. JACKSON

The meeting referred to was proclaimed, as the responsible authorities had reason to believe that it was being convened with the unlawful object of denouncing and intimidating the occupier of an evicted farm and of intimidating others from taking such farms.

MR. SEXTON

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government have any right to suppress a public meeting in Ireland without disclosing the information on which they acted?

*MR. JACKSON

In a previous answer I stated that the police had reason to suppose that this meeting would lead to a disturbance, and that it was on a sworn information suppressed, the same course being followed in this as in other cases.

MR. SEXTON

What I particularly want to ask is, whether the Government have a right to prevent a public meeting from being held in Ireland, and refuse to disclose the information on which they act?

*MR. JACKSON

The Government accept the responsibility of their action. It is notorious what the character of the meeting was to be. I find in the report of certain proceedings connected with this meeting, that a letter was read from a gentleman whom the hon. Member will know—Mr. Michael Davitt. He apologised for his absence and said— I regret I am unable to attend a meeting announced to be held in support of evicted tenants and for denouncing landgrabbers. I wish you thorough success. I have merely read this to show that the object of the proposed meeting was to bring intimidation to bear upon persons in the district.

MR. SEXTON

I shall move for the production of a copy of the sworn information, on the principle that the Government are not entitled to suppress a public meeting unless they are prepared to inform the House of the reasons on which they act.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Is it in the power of any policeman to obtain the suppression of a proposed meeting?

*MR. JACKSON

The Government cannot interfere with any meeting unless they have reason to believe it will be an illegal meeting.