HC Deb 21 April 1904 vol 133 cc852-4
MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland the following Question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether he will take steps to prevent the playing of hurling matches at Blaris, near Lisburn, on Sundays, as Blaris is the centre of a strongly Protestant district where the playing of these matches on Sundays deeply offends the religious feelings of the inhabitants, and on what district, if any, the cost of the extra police drafted into Lisburn on Sunday last will be levied?

MR. WYNDHAM

Whilst members of the Hurling Club are within their legal rights in playing near Lisburn on Sunday or inviting other clubs to Lisburn for the bonâ fide purpose of joining in the game, even though by so doing they should offend the religious susceptibilities of the majority of the inhabitants of the district, yet it is greatly to be regretted that some reasonable and amicable arrangement cannot be arrived at whereby the games might be played in a locality, and under conditions, less calculated to arouse opposition than those which exist in this particular instance. And I am not without hope that by the exercise of a little mutual forbearance, and by the intervention of the leaders of opinion on both sides, good feeling may be restored and the peace of the community maintained. At the same time, it must be distinctly understood that it is the bounden duty of the Executive Government to protect minorities in this as in every other part of Ireland in the legitimate exercise of their constitutional rights, even though such exercise should in this case, as in the case of street preaching, Party processions, and such like, arouse the hostility of the majority of the residents of the district. J ought, however, to add that should the attempt of minorities to exercise these rights be accompanied by a display of force, or by such other circumstances as are calculated to excite terror and alarm, or to endanger the peace and tranquillity of the neighbourhood, they thereby become members of an unlawful assembly and may be dealt with as such. The question of imposing the cost of extra police will receive further consideration. My desire is that all parties should co-operate to end the regrettable events which have, so far as I know, for the first time led to breaches of the peace in Lisburn The Government will seek to avoid any action which might render it harder for either side to refrain from giving or taking offence. I have just received a telegram, and I am glad to say that the magistrates have passed the following resolution. "It is with great gratification that we learn that the club have resolve I not to have any further games on Sundays in this district. We regard this decision as deserving of commendation, and believe that their action will lead to the preservation of the peace." It is a matter of general congratulation, and I may say I join in that hope of the magistrates that their decision should not be regarded as a matter of triumph to anyone, but as a matter of general congratulation that they should waive their undoubted right in deference to views which they do not share.