§ MR. DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the members of the Sacred Heart Society of Lisburn, consisting of women and girls, when returning on Sunday,3rd August, from an excursion from Warren point, through Portadown, were attacked, so that the railway authorities were compelled to drive the train with the greatest possible speed to prevent the excursionists being maltreated; and whether, seeing that this is one of several occurrences of this character which have taken place at Portadown when Roman Catholic excursionists have had occasion to pass this district, steps have been taken to bring the offenders to justice; and whether more adequate police arrangements will, in future, be made.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) No attack was made on the train when passing through Portadown, and the train proceeded at this point at the ordinary rate of speed. It has been alleged that three panes of glass in the carriage windows were broken by stones thrown at the train about two miles from Portadown. The police, however, are unable to obtain any corroboration 1113 of the statement. Every precaution is taken by the police to prevent interference with excursionists.