§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday, 6th May, when the Kilteevan (county Roscommon) fife and drum band was returning from Roscommon to Kilteevan the members were accosted by District Inspector Rogers in 881 insulting language, and that he further stated that if he had sufficient force he would disperse them, while, upon that and the following Sunday, Sergeant Higgins interfered to prevent the leader of the band addressing his comrades; and can he state by what authority these officials acted in such a manner.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI am informed there is no foundation for the statements in the question so far as the district inspector is concerned. It is true that the sergeant prevented one of the leaders of the band from addressing a meeting. The band, accompanied by a large crowd, had been demonstrating at certain grazing farms in the locality with the evident object of intimidating the persons who hold these farms. The sergeant had warned the ringleaders that their conduct was illegal.