§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord 447 Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that during a recent visit of a Cabinet Minister to Trinity College, Dublin, the students of that institution attacked the Mansion House, tore down the flag, and assaulted an old woman who was the caretaker, as well as breaking the windows of tradesmen; whether any of these students were arrested or prosecuted for these offences; and if not, whether he can explain what the police were doing on the occasion.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (MR. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralOn the occasion referred to, some students together with a number of outsiders who were in the habit of attending lectures in the Medical School, appear to have gone out by the Lincoln Place gate of the College Park about one o'clock, and proceeded to the Mansion House, where they rang the bell, forced open a wicket leading to the garden, where the civic flag was displayed, took it down and carried it away. There was a struggle between the Mansion House servants and the students, in the course of which a woman grasped the Union Jack carried by the students and, in her efforts to tear it, was dragged to the ground and a pane of glass valued at about ten shillings was broken. There was no one to identify the persons alleged to have seized the flag and broken the window, and nothing could be done, as the whole affair occupied a few minutes only. A force of thirty constables under an inspector was despatched to the spot, but when they arrived a few minutes afterwards everything was quiet.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDArising out of the answer may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not true that these unseemly and riotous proceedings were purely the outcome of the ill-timed and ill-advised visit of the Colonial Secretary?
§ CAPTAIN DONELANCan the right hon. Gentleman induce any of these "heroes" to volunteer for the seat of war?
§ [No answer was given.]