HC Deb 19 November 1902 vol 114 cc1350-1
MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Cork Co., N.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the action of the police at Rathcormac on the 9th instant, on the occasion of a Gaelic tournament held in a paddock rented for the purpose by the President of the Gaelic Club, when a head constable and some policemen refused to pay for admission, and forced an entrance into the paddock; and, seeing that meetings of the Gaelic Club for various sports are held in Rathcormac week after week, will the police be instructed to exercise more discretion with regard to them in future.

(Answered by Mr Wyndham.) The police did not use any force in entering the field, and no objection was taken to their presence by the owner. On many occasions disturbances arising out of these tournaments have taken place, and it was deemed prudent to have police in attendance at the meeting in question. They do not unnecessarily intrude on such occasions.