§ MR. MAGUIREI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recent evictions on the De Freyne estate, in the County of Roscommon; whether he is aware that, on the occasion referred to, the houses of the families evicted were unroofed, and one burnt, by the agents of the landlord, these operations being carried out under the protection of the constabulary; and whether he will state whether there was any obligation on the Executive to afford police protection to persons engaged in such operations?
* MR. J. MORLEYMy attention has been drawn to the proceedings at the recent evictions on this estate. I am aware that in some 12 cases the houses were unroofed by the landlord's representatives, and that in one case a house was burnt the day following eviction. It is not true to say that these operations were carried out under the protection of the constabulary; on the contrary, the police received express instructions from headquarters to withdraw from the scene in the event of the demolition of the houses. These instructions were carried out, and in no case were they within sight of the houses when the work of destruction commenced. The police were five miles distant when the burning took place. There is no obligation on the Executive to afford protection to persons engaged in such operations, and whenever police are asked for to protect persons in demolishing houses the request is invariably refused.
§ MR. DARLINGMay I ask whether persons engaged in demolishing houses are not just as much entitled to protection as persons not engaged in demolishing houses?
MR. J. MORLEYIf there is any chance of the peace being broken, then the police will do their ordinary duty.