HC Deb 20 May 1895 vol 33 cc1583-4
MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday 28th April, at Corduff, near Carrickmacross, bodies of people, returning to their homes from a peaceful meeting, were stopped on the high road by the police; and that one body of people when stopped by the police proceeded to cross the fields in order to reach another road; whether they were pursued by the police and roughly handled; and, whether some band instruments were taken from the people by the police and the instruments injured; and, if so, whether the action of the police was in accordance with the law?

MR. JOHN MORLEY

I am informed by the District Inspector of Police that the promoters of the meeting referred to had previously been warned that no assemblage would be permitted within a certain radius. An attempt, however, was made by the crowd, accompanied by a band, to hold the meeting inside this radius, and at this point one of the drummers pushed his way through the police, who quietly stopped him, took the instrument from him, and at once handed it over to the other bandsmen. The drum was in no way injured. The District Inspector assures me that the people were not at any time pursued, nor was anyone roughly handled, as at no time did the police come into collision with the people.

MR. DILLON

The right hon. Gentleman says "within a certain radius." A certain radius of what?

MR. J. MORLEY

Within a certain radius of an evicted farm. My hon. Friend is aware that I have laid down that a meeting should not be held within a given distance of an evicted farm. That rule has worked very well, and the people have not complained of it.

MR. DILLON

It is very important for the people, in order to understand this matter, to know whether a rule applies to an evicted farm on which a new tenant is living, or whether it applies also to an empty evicted farm; because I understand that in this case it was an empty evicted farm.

MR. J. MORLEY

If my information is right, on this occasion the meeting was held to denounce two given individuals, not, it is true, for holding, but for allowing their cattle to trespass on a farm near their holding. That would be an object of individual intimidation if my information is correct.