§ COLONEL SAUNDERSONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a man, named Scanlon, was fired at twice at Westport on the 21st inst., for taking an evicted farm; and that a meeting was held recently in the neighbourhood, at which Mr. W. O'Brien held up land grabbers to public odium; and what steps the Government are taking to prevent such teaching bearing further fruit?
§ MR. MICHAEL DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I would ask the right hon. Gentleman before he answers that Question whether it is the fact that the village where the firing is alleged to have taken place is 40 miles distant from the place Mr. William O'Brien made his speech at?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI do not think this Question refers to that village at all. Two shots were fired at a distance of about 80 yards from the house of Peter Scahill, to whom this Question presumably refers, on the night of the 14th inst. There is no evidence, however, to show that they were fired at Scahill. Scahill is in occupation of an evicted farm in the district of Westport and county of Mayo. A meeting was held at Cahir, 40 miles away, in the same county, some days previously, at which Mr. O Brien used language of the nature indicated. The police have taken, and will continue to take, whatever steps seem necessary to protect Scahill and other persons who, in the exercise of their legal rights, take and occupy farms from which the former tenants have been evicted.