§ MR. MAGUIRE (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the police engaged guarding the dismantled houses of widow Cahilahan, Cloonbunny, widow Moran Curraghard, and Pat Moran Curraghard, tenants on the Do Freyne estate, County Roscommon, who wore evicted, and whose homes were levelled by aid of the police in September last, have burned the turf and roofing of the houses of some of those people, and used the hay and Straw of others for bedding, rendering it unmarketable; whether he is aware that bills for the damage were furnished to Mr. Roberts, D.I., Castlerea, who is in charge of the police who so acted, and that the amounts are not yet paid; and whether he has sanctioned the conduct 70 of the police; and, if not, will he order payment to be made at once?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (Mr. BRYCE(for Mr. J. MORLEY) (Aberdeen, S.)With regard to the statement that the houses were levelled with the aid of the police, my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary has already pointed out, in reply to a question previously addressed to him by the hon. Gentleman, that the work of levelling houses on the occasion referred to was not carried out under the protection of the Constabulary. As regards the remainder of the question, inquiry is being made with a view to ascertain whether there is any foundation for the statements in the question so far as they affect the police.