§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a number of students in Dublin attacked the Mansion House and tore down the civic flag on 1st March; and that this is the second time in a few months that attacks of this kind have been made; and what steps are to be taken to protect the Mansion House of Dublin from such attacks.
§ MR. ATKINSONI am informed that on the 1st instant a number of students obtained access to the Mansion House grounds by climbing over the garden wall, and that they then lowered the civic flag and threw it into the adjoining street. The police, however, quickly arrived on the scene and restored the flag to the Mansion House. Several arrests were made, and three of the prisoners, who were at once brought before the divisional magistrate, were fined 40s. each. With regard to the second paragraph, there was a constable on special duty in front of the Mansion House on the occasion in question. He did his utmost to prevent the students from entering the garden, but was overpowered and roughly handled. The occurrence was entirely unexpected and only lasted for a few minutes. I would refer to the statement made by my right hon. friend the Chief Secretary in answer to a question put to him on the 2nd February in reference to the similar reprehensible proceedings which took place at the Mansion House in December last.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask if evidence was not given to the effect that one policeman was knocked down by those loyal students?
§ MR. ATKINSONI am not aware of that.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentlemen's attention was drawn to the report of the local police of that case, when it was stated that one police constable was knocked down and kicked?
§ MR. ATKINSONThe only information I have upon the matter is that one constable had his uniform torn, and not that he was knocked down.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to a number of students climbing over the Castle wall and tearing down the Union Jack?
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in cases where Nationalist disturbances—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! [After a pause, during which Mr. O'Brien remained standing]: The hon. Member is now repeating the practice to which I 49 have before called his attention—namely, continuing to stand after I have called him to order.