§ MR. BARTON (Armagh, Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the evening of Saturday the 17th instant, at about 6 o'clock, in the County of Armagh, a Protestant band, principally composed of lads belonging to the parishes of Grange and Allcrstragh, was stopped by a hostile crowd which was brought together by the blowing of horns, and was armed with scythes, billhooks, spades, shovels, and other weapons, and that the members of the Protestant band were commanded by persons in the crowd not to proceed on their way from Grange to Allerstragh; whether it is true that the members of the Protestant baud, having remonstrated and asserted their right to proceed on their way, were attacked and driven back by the crowd; whether he is aware that in the conflict which ensued four members of the Protestant band and one of the attacking party were seriously wounded, and other persons sustained injuries, and that the Protestant baud, when stopped and commanded to turn back, was playing music of a non-Party character, and proceeding by the shortest public way from Grange to Allerstragh; and what steps the Government propose to take to protect the freedom of the highway in the district?
§ MR. BRYCE (for Mr. J. MORLEY)It is a fact that on the day mentioned an affray took place in the locality referred to, in the course of which several members of each party received injuries, none of which, however, as I am informed by the police, were of a serious character. The Irish Government has directed proceedings to be instituted against a number of persons on each side, and, pending the investigation of the case, the hon. and learned Gentleman will, I feel sure, agree with me that it would be improper to enter into further details, or express an opinion on the subject.