HC Deb 18 February 1897 vol 46 c720
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that that the police of Kilcooney and Ballyvaughan, County Clare, are in the habit of patrolling farms belonging to Thomas Markham, and at times, in the absence of the herdsmen, counting the cattle and sheep on the lands; and (2) whether this is within the duties of the police; if not, will the police be instructed to confine themselves to protection duty?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The facts are substantially as stated in the first paragraph. Markham is under police protection, and the police, in the discharge of their duties and as a, precautionary measure, occasionally examine and count his cattle and sheep.