HC Deb 11 July 1898 vol 61 cc479-80
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Executive will provide that at the Orange demonstration, which it is announced will be held in the town of Donegal on the 12th July, the route of the Orange procession shall not be through localities where the population is mainly Roman Catholic?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I understand that it is not contemplated that there will be any procession through the localities referred to, but that contingents may pass through the town. As already stated by me, every possible precaution will be taken for the preservation of the peace on the occasion.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

May I ask whether the right honourable Gentleman is aware that the arrangements have been so altered that contingents of the procession are to pass through the town with bands and banners?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! This is a repetition of the Question already put.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

No, Sir; I am only offering the right honourable Gentleman some further particulars.

MR. DILLON

Is it not the fact that the magistrates assembled in Donegal under a Protestant resident magistrate on Wednesday last decided unanimously that for the preservation of peace and order it would be necessary to prohibit the procession from marching through Catholic quarters? And is he not prepared to apply to the Protestant town of Donegal the same rules as have been applied to the city of Belfast?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am not aware of the facts stated by the honourable Member for East Mayo. As regards the Question of the honourable Member for South Donegal, I understand that only certain contingents will pass through the town, and even then not through those-parts which are for the most part Roman Catholic. Unless these contingents pass through the town they would have to make a detour of four or five miles to get to the place of meeting.

MR. DILLON

But is the right honourable Gentleman aware that the magistrates have unanimously decided that the procession ought not to pass through the streets of Donegal, and will he see that it is not allowed to do so?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am not prepared to say that the procession should not pass through the streets. I understand that the magistrates have taken every possible precaution for the preservation of the peace.