HC Deb 23 October 1899 vol 77 c487
MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will he explain why all the military, with the exception of a small number of recruits, have been withdrawn from the Victoria Barracks, Clifton Street, Belfast, seeing that it has been found necessary on more than one occasion recently, and when the police were unable to suppress dangerous riots in Belfast, to call out the military to aid the civil power; and will he have the military now withdrawn replaced by others, so that in the unfortunate event of any recurrence of local disturbances the peaceable citizens might have due protection.

MR. WYNDHAM

The troops withdrawn from Belfast were required for service in South Africa. I have already explained in this House how troops withdrawn in this, and similar instances, will be replaced. I may add that a squadron of Dragoon Guards will, among other troops, be at Belfast.