§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the 26th ultimo, a party of Catholics, returning from an excursion to Warrenpoint, were stoned on the way to Ligoniel, and several persons seriously injured; whether notice of the time of return had been given to the police; what measures they adopted in consequence; and whether any arrests have been made?
§ SIR E. HARLAND (Belfast, N.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask him if it is not the case that the incident referred to occurred a month earlier than the date named in the question, and if it was not of so trifling a character that no medical man was called upon to examine any of the slight wounds or bruises inflicted?
§ MR. SEXTONThe date should be the 13th, and not the 26th.
MR. J. MORLEYI think the hon. Baronet is right in his suggestion. I am informed that the excursion referred to took place on the 26th June. The police 1423 had received notice of the excursion and took precautions by drafting into the locality some additional police. It appears that the excursionists returned to Ligoniel late at night in a number of brakes, and that when passing a point at which a thick hedge divides the road from a field two stones were thrown, striking, two of the party hut without inflicting serious injury. There was no organised attack on the party, and the stones are believed to have been thrown by youths, both by the police and by the people in the brakes, who saw a few young persons running along at the point referred to, but are unable to identify them. Every exertion has been made to trace the offenders, but so far without result.