§ MR. J. ROSSI beg to ask the the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that Hugh Moore, of Lisnafund, near Virginia, County Cavan, who took a farm from which a former tenant had been evicted for non-payment of rent has been and is boycotted, and has been prevented from selling his horses by disorderly crowds who follow him about blowing horns in fairs and markets; that on 2nd of February while drawing hay to his farm he was attacked by a large crowd and violently assaulted, and his cart overturned; that on several occasions horn-blowing crowds assembled about his house, and that Moore's sister is also boycotted, and that the mill hands in the neighbourhood have refused to scutch her flax or grind her oats; and that boycotting notices have appeared lately in the Drogheda Independent 967 referring to this case; and (2) has any person been made amenable?
MR. J. MORLEYI am aware that Moore has been subjected to much annoyance for the reason stated in the question. On the 24th January he brought a horse to Virginia Fair, not, as I am advised, for the purpose of selling it, but in order to see if the people would interfere with him. He was shouted at by a large crowd, which, however, dispersed on being cautioned by the police. With regard to the occurrences of the 2nd instant, the Government have given directions for the prosecution of the ringleaders on this occasion, and the proceedings will be instituted at the earliest Petty Sessions. The statements at the end of the first paragraph of the question are, I am informed, correct.