§ MR. JAMES GILHOOLY (Cork Co., W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether complaints have reached him that a tenant farmer named John Ross, who was evicted from a farm at Lugacoppel, near Skibbereen, is continuously annoyed by a police patrol who visit the farm on which he at present resides, enter his house, which is situate several miles from the evicted farm, and question his children as to his (Mr. Ross's) movements; (2) whether he is aware that Mr. Ross repeatedly offered The O'Donovan of Lissard to allow the rent of the evicted farm which was £60, Poor Law valuation £38, to be fixed by the Land Commission or by arbitration, and solvent security given for its payment; and (3) whether, in view of 969 Mr. Ross's offers of amicable arrangement, this action of the police will cease?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt appears to be a fact that on two occasions in October last a police patrol entered the house of John Ross, but there is nothing unusual or exceptional in this, as the police very often when on duty enter houses and are cordially received. Of course when their presence is objected to they leave. I am informed that Ross's children were not questioned by the police as alleged. I have no knowledge as to the truth of the fact alleged in the second paragraph.