§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the police ordered the publicans of Roundwood and Lara, county Wicklow, to keep their shops closed on Saturday, 2nd February, and whether they acted on their own initiative, or upon instructions received from a superior officer, and under what statute are the Irish constabulary entitled to order the closing of public-houses on an ordinary weekday.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe fact, I understand, is as stated in the first part of the question. The police acted on the in- 80 structions of the district inspector, who was of opinion, erroneously, that the public-houses should be closed as on a day of public fast under the 35 and 36 Vict. cap. 94, Section 78.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORWill the attention of the Inspector General of the Irish Constabulary be drawn to this case?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, his attention has been drawn to the error.