HC Deb 29 May 1902 vol 108 cc910-1
MR. NANNETTI

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that a public meeting, summoned to be held at Blessington Basin, Dublin, on Sunday. 18th May, was prevented from being held; that the Member of Parliament for the constituency who was to take the chair and address his constituents was prevented from doing so, and was, with several citizens, assaulted and dragged through the streets; whether the Executive gave instructions to I prevent the meeting being held; and will he explain why the Commissioner of Police served no notice on the Member for the division before proceeding to the acts mentioned; also whether he will state the name of the officer on duty, and will he cause an inquiry to be made into the conduct of the officer in charge and the police on the occasion.

MR. WYNDHAM

A meeting was announced to be held at Blessington Basin, as stated, with the avowed object, amongst other things, of condemning the action of an individual who held grass lands in the County Sligo. The site of the proposed meeting was in immediate proximity to the residence of this individual, and amongst the speakers announced to be present were certain delegates from Sligo. The police having good reason, therefore, to believe that the object of the meeting at the place selected was to intimidate this individual, warned the promoters in ample time beforehand that it would not be permitted. The hon. Member was not so warned, since there was no ground for believing that he would be present. In the full knowledge, however, that no meeting would be permitted in the locality, he, with a number of other persons, attempted to drive through the police cordon and to address the people. Having resisted the police, they moved him on, and in the struggle he fell, but was in no way injured. No person was injured on the occasion by the police, who did not use their batons. The force on duty acted under the personal direction of the Assistant Commissioner. The action of the police in prohibiting the meeting at, or in close proximity to, the site selected, was taken with the knowledge and approval of Government. I am informed that the gates of the Basin, which is the property of the Corporation, were closed against the meeting, presumably by direction of the Corporation.

MR. NANNETTI

said that, in consequence of the reply, he would ask leave to move the adjournment of the House to discuss the matter as one of urgent public importance.