MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the Press reports of an encounter between bailiffs and fishermen on the Shannon near Limerick, on the night of Sunday 8th instant, when two fishermen were seriously wounded by revolver shots alleged to have been fired by the chief bailiff and his assistants; whether any of the bailiffs have yet been placed under arrest, and whether the revolvers will be taken from these bailiffs, as was done in Cork recently; whether he is aware that the fishermen complain of the destruction of their nets, when fishing on their own waters, by the bailiffs' steam launch; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be held at once into the conduct of the chief bailiff and the state of the Limerick fisheries, as has repeatedly been requested by the fishermen?
§ *MR. JACKSONIt appears that the Inspector of Bailiffs alleges that the shots were fired in self-defence and when his life was in danger. Legal proceedings, however, have been instituted in the matter, and the case will no doubt be fully investigated in a Court of Law.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENIs it alleged that the fishermen carried revolvers? If not, how is it contended that the life of the bailiff was in danger?
§ *MR. JACKSONLife may be endangered from weapons other than revolvers.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENDoes the right hon. Gentleman encourage the use of revolvers as a means of self-defence?
§ *MR. JACKSONThere is no desire to encourage the use of revolvers.