HC Deb 17 June 1902 vol 109 cc841-2
MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether orders have been given to the members of the Dublin Metropolitan Police to attend at and take the names of people attending meetings of branches of the United Irish League in Dublin; whether he is aware that a number of constables and an inspector attended the place of meeting of the Mount joy branch on Thursday last, and interrogated those attending the meeting and asked for the names of the chairman and secretary; and whether this action of the police has his sanction; and, if not, will he give instructions to the police to discontinue it.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDUAM,) Dover

No, Sir. No such instructions have been given. The hon. Member has not been correctly informed of the facts alluded to in the latter part of his question. The constable on beat-duty inquired the names of the chairman and secretary of the meeting. The constable was visited in the ordinary course of patrol by his inspector and sergeant. No other members of the force were present. The constable and his officers acted in accordance with the ordinary routine of their duty and quite irrespectively of the character of the meeting in question.

MR. NANNETTI

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that an inspector and five constables stood at the door taking the names?

MR. WYNDHAM

I understand that when the constable saw a crowd assembling, he asked the cause, as was his duty, and took the names.

MR. NANNETTI

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the constable was actually invited into the room?

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member cannot discuss this matter by Question and answer.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)

Are we to understand that it is within the ordinary routine of duty of a police officer to demand the names of the secretary and chairman of any meeting that may be held in Dublin?

MR. WYNDHAM

I said nothing of the kind. The constable had no instructions, but he very properly asked the cause of the crowd assembling, as was his duty.

MR. NANNETTI

Will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions to members of the force to discontinue this practice of taking names?

MR. WYNDHAM

Certainly not. It is the duty of an officer when he finds a crowd obstructing the pavement to find out what is going on.