§ MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Cork Co., N.E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a practice recently growing up amongst the police at Kildorrery and Ballindangan, North-East Cork, of taking up positions in the passages leading to, and at the doors of, rooms where meetings of the United 778 Irish League are being held; and, having regard to the character of such meetings, and seeing that the names of the members attending are regularly published in the newspapers, will he consider the desirability of recommending the discontinuance of the practice.
(Answer.) I have already stated that where a branch of this society may reasonably be believed to have advocated acts of boycotting and intimidation, the police have instructions to attend in close proximity to the place of meeting, with the twofold object of inspiring confidence in the victims of intimidation and of collecting evidence in the event of attempts being made to renew it. Pursuant to these instructions the police are closely watching the proceedings of the local branches of the League in the districts mentioned, and they will continue to pursue this course of action so long as may be necessary. On the 15th inst, the secretary to the branch at Kildorrery was convicted of the offence of criminal conspiracy against certain persons in the locality, who are boycotted, and sentenced to four months imprisonment. From this sentence an appeal has been lodged.—(Irish Office.)