§ MR. DAVITTOn the Motion for Adjournment, I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received any information in the course of the day, in reference to an attack made upon some people in the court-house at Westport by the police. I have received a telegram, which I should like to read to the House—
Four leaders sentenced four months, in refusing bail; people cheered as they left Court; police charged with bâtons; County Inspector Milling first struck people; one person seriously injured.I trust that the right hon. Gentleman will be able to contradict this serious statement, because he knows that in this country, in the case of any trial arousing popular excitement, it is customary for people to cheer at the result, and the only consequence is a reproof from the Judge. I trust we may receive some assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that there is some mistake in this telegram; otherwise we shall have to take most serious notice of a police outrage upon people for cheering inside a court-house upon such an occasion.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI have very little information to give the hon. Member with regard to this occurrence. As far as I can gather, it seems to have taken place not, as the hon. Member says, inside the courthouse, but outside. I had better read to the House the telegram I have received—
On removal of prisoners, large, excited crowd assembled; prisoners got off quietly, but shortly after mob became disorderly; County Inspector had to order bâton charge, since which perfectly quiet.I shall no doubt receive a more detailed account later to-day; perhaps the hon. Gentleman will repeat his question.
§ *MR. LOUGHI think it is a very serious matter that a demonstration of this kind, on the part of the people, should provoke such a retort on the part of the police, seeing, especially, the famine and suffering at present existing in this part of Ireland. I will not yield to anyone in my desire to see law and order respected in every part of the kingdom, but I think the Government might, considering the great suffering, of which this spot is the centre, take steps to see that these explosions of temper on the part of the police should not take place. I would appeal to the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury, who is also in his place at this moment, whether the Government might not ensure that the law may be tempered with as much kindness as possible.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.If the hon. Gentleman appeals to me, I think that the law should always be tempered with kindness, but the hon. Member will notice that he is mixing up two things. While if is our duty, as far as we can, to mitigate suffering, it is also our duty to preserve law and order, and I do not think that one duty clashes with the other in the least.
§ DR. TANNERI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman how he can bring himself to apply the term "mob" to the people, who were merely cheering and encouraging leaders, who they thought had been unjustly sentenced?
§ MR. P. C. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)I would suggest to the right hon. Gentleman whether it would not be well to give the police instructions either to read the Riot Act, or give some other notice, before they resort to a bâton charge.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe police always give notice, if they can do so, before taking such steps.
§ The House adjourned at 12.10.