§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that on the evening of Wednesday, 1st May, the police at Achonry, in the county of Sligo, attacked several persons, and that a man named Hubert Judge received a wound on the forehead from the stroke of a policeman's baton, and that several others were injured on the occasion; and whether any explanation can be given of this occurrence.
§ MR. WYNDHAMAn attempt was made at ten o'clock on the night of the 1st instant to hold a demonstration in close proximity to a grazing farm of which the owner and his workmen were entitled to protection from intimidation. The police had previously warned the promoters that no such demonstration would be permitted. But the warning was ignored, and the police were obliged to disperse the assemblage. The police were struck with sticks and stones. They are not aware that the man named was struck, and, so far as they can ascertain, no person in the crowd was injured.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Who instructed the police to interfere with this meeting?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThey acted under general instructions. In no village in England would such a demonstration have been permitted.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)Have they general instructions to pull down placards?
§ MR. O'DOWDDid the police use their batons on this occasion?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI understand that the affair has been exaggerated. The meeting was convened at ten o'clock at night in order to intimidate certain persons. That would not be permitted anywhere, and we do not intend to permit it in Ireland.