HC Deb 23 March 1899 vol 69 cc138-9
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the churchwarden of St. Clement's, Belfast, who prosecuted a man for brawling, has been forced, in consequence of menaces, to give up his situation, and that, after he gave up his situation, certain persons threatened they would make a corpse of him before he left Belfast; and whether the Government intends to bring this state of things to an end?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD W. BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)

I am informed that the churchwarden of St. Clement's Church who instituted the proceedings referred to in the Question was employed as a joiner in the shipyard of Messrs. Workman and Clark until the 11th February last, when he was paid off, with some 60 or 70 other joiners, as there was not work for them. So far as the police can ascertain, no threats were used towards him of the nature alleged in the Question. The churchwarden is now in England, but his wife, who still resides in Belfast, has informed the police that she never heard him say he had been threatened.

MR. DILLON

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Miss Crangle, one of the witnesses for the prosecution of Johnston in the recent brawling case at St. Clement's, Belfast (together with her sister), was on that account dismissed from her situation in Steen's Mill; and also that other witnesses were dismissed from their situations for the same reason; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

It is not the fact that Miss Crangle was dismissed from her situation in Steen's Mill. She failed to return to her work after the trial before the Recorder on the 2nd inst. Her place was kept open for a week, and then filled, as the did not return. Miss Crangle's sister worked in the same mill. After the conviction of Johnson some ill-feeling was shown towards her by some of the other female workers, who hooted and jeered at her. On this account the manager advised her to remain away for a few days until the ill-feeling should subside. She accordingly left, and has not since returned to the mill. So far as can be learned, none of the other witnesses have been dismissed from their situations.