HC Deb 14 June 1898 vol 59 cc230-1
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many Roman Catholic houses were wrecked in Belfast on Monday night, and how many on Tuesday night; and why Roman Catholic public-houses in districts known to be dangerous were left without protection?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No houses occupied by Roman Catholics were wrecked on the Monday, though damage estimated at about £12 was done to one house, and some glass was broken in two others. On Tuesday, two licensed houses were wrecked, another was considerably damaged, and some windows were broken in three other houses. With regard to the second paragraph, the wrecking took place when the police were actually engaged in conflict, in the neighbourhood, with the mob. There was no reason for apprehending beforehand an attack on the houses specially mentioned. The breakages of glass which occurred were in almost every instance the work of a running crowd.