§ MR. HAYDENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a man named Patrick Costello, living in Carmaska, near Strollestown, County of Roscommon, who is under police protection and was recently licensed to use a revolver, wantonly fired at three men in that district on the night of 18th May as they were going to their homes from Strollestown; and whether the Government contemplate taking any action in his case.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe occurrence to which the question presumably refers took place at 11 o'clock on the night of 11th May. It appears that Costello, against whom there has been much ill-feeling, and who has received considerable annoyance, found four or five men close to his house, one of whom 1496 threw a stone at Costello, whereupon he discharged a shot in the air from his revolver. These men were unknown to Costello, who reported the occurrence to the police on 13th May. The persons alleged to have been fired at have made no complaint, and are also unknown to the police; but if they will come forward and make statements to the police the matter will be further investigated.