§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in reference to the Return of the number of agrarian outrages in Ireland during the quarter ending 31st December, 1901, whether inquiry has been made by constabulary authorities into the 11 cases of alleged incendiary fires; whether he can say if any of them, and, if so, how many, were, in the opinion of the police, entitled to be classified as committed by the parties seeking compensation. And will he state what inquiry, if any, was made by the constabulary authorities into the five alleged cases of maiming cattle last quarter.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe 11 cases of incendiary fire and the five cases of injuries to cattle were closely investigated by the police before they were recorded as outrages, and there is no reason to believe that any of them were committed by the parties seeking compensation.
§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of agrarian offences returned for Ireland during the quarter ending the 31st December, 1901; how many of these were offences against the person; and whether the figures mark a diminution or otherwise in the number of such offences.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe replies to the first two queries are, 47 and none. These figures show a marked decrease.