§ MR. JAMES DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that the students of Trinity College, Dublin, attacked with sticks the public in the streets of Dublin on Monday night last; and (2) whether he can say if any arrests were made by the police on the occasion, or will he order the prosecution, of these students?
§ MR. LECKY (Dublin University)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this Question, may I ask him whether the origin of these disturbances was not an open-air meeting, with a black flag, bearing disloyal inscriptions, which was held in the immediate neighbourhood of the college for the express purpose of putting down all Loyalist demonstrations in Dublin; and whether, as a matter of fact, panes of glass to the value of many hundreds of pounds have not been broken in Dublin in houses in which loyal emblems are displayed?
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, W.)May I ask if it is not a fact that the Young Men's. Christian Association windows were broken, that the windows of the Orange Hall in Rutland Square were also smashed, and that the police were pelted from the National Club next door to the Orange Hall?
§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, S.)May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the first disorder in Dublin was created by the raid of the Trinity College students upon the people? [Nationalist cheers.]
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDIn answer to the Question on the Paper I have to say there is no foundation whatever for the statement in the first paragraph of the Question. What occurred on the occasion was this: on Monday night a number of persons 564 assembled in close proximity to Trinity College for the purpose of protesting against the Jubilee rejoicings. Some of the college students, as well as other loyal subjects, were attracted to the spot and cheered for the Queen, but there was no disorder. On the return of the students to the college a drunken man used offensive expressions, at the same time brandishing a stick. He was struck on the head by some one in the crowd outside the college, but there is no reason to believe that the blow was struck by a student. The police were present and prevented any disturbance. No students were arrested on the occasion, as the necessity did not arise; and it is not the intention of the police to take any proceedings against any of the students. In answer to the Question of my right hon. Friend, I believe it is true that riotous bands went through the City of Dublin on that night and attacked the houses of persons who displayed illuminations or emblems of rejoicing on the occasion of the celebration of the Jubilee, and who also attacked the houses of Nationalists who had not hung out black flags or displayed any disloyal emblems. In answer to my hon. Friend behind me, I believe it is the fact that the Orange Hall was stoned and the Young Men's Christian Association building was also stoned, and several persons were attacked in different parts of the City of Dublin whose only offence appears to have been that they cheered for Her Majesty.
§ *MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)asked what were the disloyal emblems to which the right hon. Gentleman had referred?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDThey consisted of "Cheers for Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien," "The Manchester Martyrs," "Remember 1798," and things of that character.