§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether complaints have recently been made against the police of Swanlinbar, County Cavan, for their laxity of duty in failing to preserve the peace between persons under the influence of drink on several occasions; and, will these complaints be made the subject of investigation; and, if not, will he explain why?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralOnly one complaint, by a Mr. Patrick McTeague, appears to have been recently made against the police for laxity of duty at Swanlinbar. This complaint arose out of an assault committed in the town on the 30th March by Patrick Dolan on a man named McGovern, and the matter has been investigated by the district inspector, who states that the assault was not sufficiently serious to call for the interference of the police. In connection with this occurrence, an assault of a more serious nature had been committed a few minutes before by two men on Dolan himself, who expressed his readiness to prosecute his assailants, but subsequently failed to attend at Petty Sessions to do so, and the facts of the case having been brought under the notice of the Magistrates, they directed the police to take proceedings against the parties, which will be done at next Petty Sessions.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that the assault was committed in the presence of the head constable.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid he was aware of that fact, but he thought it was a case in which proceedings might possibly be taken by the police.