§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the frequency of the attacks made on the Roman Catholic Church, Edenderry, Portadown, especially within the last twelve months; whether he can state the number of times in that period the windows of the church referred to have been deliberately broken; and whether any report on the subject has been made by the local police authorities to the Castle; and, if so, whether any action, and, if any, what action, has been taken by the Executive in reference thereto.
§ MR. WYNDHAMSome panes of glass in this church have been broken within the past year on three separate occasions. Respectable people of all denominations have expressed their disapproval of these mischievous and wanton acts. They are believed to have been committed by boys; and windows, I may observe, have also been broken in the Protestant Church, also, I imagine, by boys. The occurrences were duly re-reported by the local constabulary, by whom every effort was made to trace the guilty parties, though, I regret to say, without result.
§ MR. CLANCYWill the right hon. Gentleman further inquire?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIf it is a question of my obtaining evidence where the police have failed, I doubt if I can succeed.
§ MR. CLANCYHas not the right hon. Gentleman received three letters from 252 the Roman Catholics of Portadown on this subject, and not answered a single one?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThat fact has not come to my knowledge.