§ *MR. COGAN (Wicklow. E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the police who assisted the sheriff at the eviction of a man named Foley, of Ovoca, county Wicklow, on the 4th instant, entered the house with revolvers presented at the tenant, who refused to leave, and threatened to shoot him it he resisted; that tin' only officer in charge of the police was a sergeant: that they made a prisoner of Foley and a man who was in the house with him: and that these two men are now in gaol on a charge of resisting the sheriff: and whether a sergeant of police has any power to order the use of firearms on such an occasion unless in the presence of a magistrate, and then not until the Riot Act has first been read.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe sergeant entered the house with a revolver in his hand, but he did not present it at anyone or make use of threats. Three con- 1584 stables were present in charge of the sergeant. Foley and another occupant of the house resisted the sub-sheriff' in the execution of his duty and attempted to strike that officer, as well as the sergeant, with a wooden pole. The two men were arrested; Foley has been remanded in custody, and the other man has been admitted to bail. A sergeant of police has power to order the use of firearms if in his judgment the necessity for such a course arises, even though a magistrate he not present and the Riot Act be not read. The Riot Act is a public caution and adds nothing to the powers of a peace officer.