§ MR. DANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that recently at Lisagoon, County Cavan, a large mob, accompanied by six Nationalist bands, assembled for the purpose of preventing men in the employment of Captain Smith from working on an evicted farm in the locality; that the police authorities, anticipating disturbance, had a force of 40 men present to protect the workmen; that, in spite of the presence of the police, hooting, groaning, and stone throwing were kept up by the crowd to frighten the workmen; and that, notwithstanding that some of the police were struck with stones, they made no attempt to preserve order or disperse the mob; and what steps have been taken to prosecute the ringleaders for unlawful assembly and intimidation?
§ MR. J. MORLEYIt is a fact that on July 17 a considerable number of persons assembled in a field adjoining the evicted farm with the object mentioned in the question; that they were accompanied by some bands of music, the precise number of which is not known; that the crowd hooted and groaned; and that a force of 28 police was present. About 10 stones were thrown, but upon the District Inspector remonstrating with the crowd the stone-throwing ceased. One constable was struck by a stone on the hand, and one of the workmen, it appears, was also struck. The workmen have since proceeded to the farm under police escort, and there has been no renewal of disturbance. The names of the ringleaders in the disturbances on July 17 have been taken, and the question of a prosecution is now under consideration.