MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the character of a handbill which was circulated in Belfast prior to Sunday, the 9th instant, and which openly incited to attacks on a Roman Catholic procession; whether the police had possession of this circular before the riots in Belfast on Sunday last; was any effort made by the police prior to or since the riots to discover the authors and circulators; and, if so, whether any prosecution has been instituted or is intended by the authorities 431 against the authors or circulators of this handbill.
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir; this discreditable handbill was brought to my notice, together with written reports for which I had called, to supplement telegraphic reports on these riots. The police seized and destroyed the handbill wherever they found it. The question of instituting proceedings against the person or persons responsible for its publication and the question of what further steps may be necessary to prevent a renewal of disorder are now under consideration. No effort will be spared to protect individuals and property and to bring to justice any persons who can be made amenable for having exposed either to risk.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the statement which appeared in last evening's Evening Standard of the proceedings in Belfast on Wednesday is correct—
A shocking onslaught by Queen's Island men—
§ *MR. SPEAKERIt will not be in order to read a paragraph from a newspaper and ask if it is correct. If the hon. Member can vouch for the fact he can then put the question.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI cannot vouch for the facts. I am asking for information. I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that on Wednesday last 100 Catholic navvies engaged in making the Musgrave Dock were attacked by Queen's Island men, and were obliged to take refuge in boats in the harbour; that a large number of them were seriously injured by showers of iron nuts thrown by these men; that one of these men had to take refuge in the water and was nearly killed; whether a similar occurrence took place when the Alexandra Dock was being made; whether on that occasion one young man was not actually drowned; whether the recent disturbance which commenced on Sunday and apparently extended up to Wednesday has been effectually put down; and what steps will be taken to make the ringleaders and inciters of these proceedings amenable to the law.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe very regrettable and discreditable incident to which the hon. Member refers took place on Tuesday.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI was asking as to the proceedings on Wednesday.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am giving the hon. Gentleman all the information I have. A large number of Queen's Island men made an attack on Roman Catholics on Wednesday. Some 250 took refuge in boats, and one man was struck by a missile, but he was a Protestant. [Laughter.]
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIt is no laughing matter.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIn consequence of the character of some portions of the answers I have received, and in consequence of the serious state of these occurrences, owing to which, I understand on good authority, many hundreds of Catholic workmen are at this moment out of employment, I will deem it my duty to ask the indulgence of the House to raise the question in a motion for the adjournment of the House after questions.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord; Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say how many persons were injured and how much damage done to property by the riots which took place in Belfast on Sunday the 9th instant and since, and how many arrests and prosecutions have resulted.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am informed that fourteen persons are known to have received injuries, none, happily, save in one case, of a dangerous character. The amount of the damage done to property is estimated at £100. Twenty-eight persons have already been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for participation in the rioting. One man who was badly injured, named Macalister, is a Protestant and was mistaken for a Roman Catholic. The police do not control the harbour works, nor could, they do so without the aid of the military. The place where this regrettable incident 433 occurred is private ground. Reports from Belfast state that all is quiet now, and all steps are being taken to preserve the peace.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENasked if the right hon. Gentleman had taken any steps to stop the publication of the handbill, as he did in the case of the Irish People.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe hon. Member can hardly have caught the purport of my answer. I have already stated that the police seized the handbill wherever they found it, and that proceedings were pending against the persons said to be responsible. Under these circumstances he deprecated any discussion on the matter while legal proceedings were pending.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDasked who were the persons against whom proceedings were pending.
§ MR. WYNDHAMsaid he deprecated that too. When summonses were about to be issued the best way to defeat the action of the Executive would be to give names.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI do not see that.