§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at a recent quarter sessions held in Naas, county Kildare, an officer of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers was sued by an old man 82 years of age for an aggravated assault because he was defending himself from an attack of a vicious dog, the property of Lieutenant Lonsdale, and that a decree was obtained for £2 against this officer, the County Court Judge remarking that his conduct was not above comment; and whether the case will be inquired into by the Military authorities?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe facts of the case are thus given by the Military authorities in Ireland. The old man, without provocation, gave a severe kick to a puppy belonging to Lieutenant Lonsdale, who then pushed him off the pavement. Next day the old man came to the barracks and used such abusive and disgraceful language that the officer lost his temper and committed a trivial assault upon him. At Quarter Sessions the Plaintiff admitted that he had in no way suffered from the assault, and was awarded £2 instead of the £25 he claimed. The Judge did not comment adversely on the officer's conduct, and it is not proposed to make any further inquiry into the matter.