§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether there is any truth in the report contained in The Irish Times of Saturday last, to the effect that a partially boycotted schoolmaster at Rathnalough, County Kerry, had been fired at; whether the parents of the five children who are said to have continued their attendance at the school were visited and warned; and if Murphy was under police protection shortly before the alleged occurrence?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle- upon-TyneThe facts are generally as stated in the first two paragraphs of the question, but there is no foundation for the implication that only five children were in attendance at the school. The number attending on Tuesday last was, I am informed, 33. Murphy was under protection by patrols prior to the occurrence, and it is not true to say that the protection was withdrawn from him.