HC Deb 15 June 1899 vol 72 cc1194-5
MR. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the 2nd instant another outbreak of stone-throwing by an Orange drumming party took place in Cookstown, who, after breaking the windows of the Foresters' Hall, though not so extensively as the same or a similar party broke them on the 4th of April last, rushed to the Roman Catholic quarter of the town, into which they showered stones which smashed the windows of three Catholic houses, and injured several persons; that Mr. James Mayne was furiously stoned by the crowd, and a young man who accompanied him was struck on the head and rendered insensible; and that Mr. Mayne having brought the injured young man into Mr. Devlin's house, proceeded to cross the street for medical assistance under the protection of Mr. District Inspector Carey, when both were rushed upon in the middle of the street and driven into Dr. Knight's house amidst a volley of stones; and, whether he can state how many arrests were made, how many persons will be prosecuted, and what steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence of these periodic attacks upon peaceable people.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

One pane of glass was broken in the Foresters' Hall on the 2nd instant. The Orange party did not rush into the Roman Catholic quarter, but they broke the windows in the houses of three Catholic residents. Stones were also thrown at Mr. Mayne and a young man who accompanied him, and the latter was rendered insensible for a time from a blow on the head. Stones were again thrown at Mr. Mayne when in the company of the district inspector, but he was not struck, and the police drove the Orange crowd away from Dr. Knight's house, charging the crowd with truncheons and dispersing them. The district inspector and a number of police were struck with stones. The actual stone-throwers were mot detected, as the occurrence took place in the darkness at night time, and no arrests have been made. Every precaution will be taken by the police to prevent, as far as possible, a repetition of this rioting and disturbance in which both parties have participated.