§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the case of a man named Russell, who recently laid claim to a field in the occupation of Mr. Eager, the rector of Killorglin, and in the possession of the Irish Church Body, and who was fined for trespass committed thereon; whether he is aware that notices have been since posted on the doors and gate of Mr. Eager's residence, threatening him with death if he does not give up the field, and that his work- 1162 men were threatened and obliged to leave the field; what stops have been taken to afford Mr. Eager protection; and whether any persons have been made amenable in respect of the threatening notices?
§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question may I ask if it is a fact that the Rev. Mr. Eager has published in the local papers a letter in which he bears testimony to the kindly relations existing between him and the Catholic people of Killorglin, whom he exonerates from the charge of annoying him, and in which he states that the parish priest denounced that annoyance in the most emphatic manner, declaring that if there were a continuation of it he would be the first person to help in bringing the offenders to justice. Is it not also true he thanks the priest for his action, and repudiates the opinion that he requires police protection.
§ MR. MACARTNEYHas anybody been made amenable?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle-upon-TyneI answered the question on the Paper on Friday. I have seen the letter referred to by the hon. Baronet, and it entirely bears out the statement made by my hon. Friend. It has not been deemed necessary to grant Mr. Eager personal police protection. Since the publication of the letter there has, I am told, been no recurrence of the conduct complained of. No one has been made amenable, and it looks as if the matter was at an end.