§ MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM(Cork Co., N.E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday, 14th December, Sergeant Farrell and a constable named Slattery posted themselves in front of the chapel gate at Bartlemy, County Cork, prior to the holding of the 9.30 a.m. mass, and marched up and down there, and that, when remonstrated with by the curate of the parish, they stated they were only obeying instructions; and will he say who gave the orders to these policemen to act in this manner; and is it the intention of the Irish administration to place police in front of Roman Catholic churches in Ireland on Sundays in future.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The action of the police on this occasion is lot correctly represented in the Question. A public meeting of a local organisation had been advertised to be held on the date mentioned at Bartlemy at eleven o'clock. The sergeant and constable were ordered to attend the meeting. Before acting on this instruction, however, they properly availed them selves of the opportunity of being present at divine service in the local Roman Catholic church. While waiting outside the church for the arrival of the officiating clergyman they were interrogated as to their motives in standing in this position. There was no disrespect shown by the police, and none was intended. The 1619 inquiry put in the concluding part of the Question is consequently based on a misapprehension.