§ MR. JORDAN (Fermanagh, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the 49 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Nationalist Band of Boho, Derrygonnelly, county Fermanagh, have had a weekly practice and parade on the public road in that locality for many years past; that recently, when so engaged in one of those weekly exercises, the police of the district met the band, and warned them not to parade again on the county road, and that, on the evening before going out for the next week's practice, the police surrounded the band room and threatened that should the band go out to play on the public road that night they would disperse them by force. And will he state by what authority the police prevented the band from playing and parading on the county road, and whether, considering the character of the district, he will take such steps as will prevent similar police interference in future.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe police had reason to believe that this band intended to participate in efforts which have been made to intimidate the tenant of a farm in the locality. They accordingly warned the members that no such demonstration would be permitted in the vicinity of the farm. The police acted in the discharge of their primary duty of affording protection and preserving peace.