HC Deb 16 February 1893 vol 8 cc1585-6
MR. DANE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether District Inspector Fallow, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, reported to the Authorities at Dublin Castle particulars of a serious riot which took place at Ardara, County Donegal, on the 25th November last, upon the occasion of a seizure by the Sheriff of the goods of local publicans for rent due, on which occasion the chapel bell was tolled amt the police obliged twice to charge a riotous mob; what, if any, instructions were given District Inspector Fallow in answer to his requisition; how many persons did he report as taking active part in the riot; is he aware that, upon the hearing of certain charges arising out of assaults committed on the occasion, Mr. Thomas Hamilton, the Resident Magistrate, expressed his amazement that no action had been tak n by the Authorities; and was the District Inspector directed not to prosecute, or how otherwise?

MR. J. MORLEY

District Inspector Fallon (not Fallow) of the Royal Irish Constabulary reported the particulars of the occurrences referred to in the first paragraph of the question. The bailiff who made the seizures prosecuted two men and three women for assaults committed upon him, with the result that one man was convicted and hound to the peace, and one woman was bailed for trial at the next Assizes at Lifford. The eases against the remaining defendants were dismissed by the magistrates. It is a fact, I believe, that the Resident Magistrate expressed the view attributed to him; as, however, the District Inspector considered that a prosecution by the police for riot would be very undesirable—as the seizures had been successfully carried out, and the really guilty persons brought before the magistrates; and as, moreover, the higher authority expressed his full concurrence in this opinion of the local police officer, the Crown saw no sufficient reason for acting contrary to the advice of these responsible officials on the spot.