§ MR. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Police Constable Walsh, of Rostrevor, county Down, has been censured for attending in uniform an open air sectarian meeting in that town; whether he is aware that, on a previous occasion, this constable distributed copies of a sectarian newspaper to workmen employed in the town; that he made a collection of money in Rostrevor in 1900 at the instance of the Church Mission Society; that complaints have been made as to his molesting a lady visitor to the town: and, if so, will he say whether this lady has been afforded an opportunity of identifying Walsh; and whether, in view of complaints against him for provoking religions controversies, it is proposed to 856 retain this policeman in a Roman Catholic district.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe constable attended, in uniform, an out-door religious meeting; he was not censured for having done so. He gave away a few copies of the British Workman newspaper about three years ago. He made a collection in 1900 for the Indian Famine Fund and holds a receipt for the sum collected. He made no other collection. Complaint was made that a policeman spoke on religious matters to a lady visitor; it was not alleged that Walsh was the constable. He holds a high record for good police service, and his superior officers have no reason to believe that he will not continue to perform his duties without offence to any section of the inhabitants. It is not intended to transfer him to another district.
MR. MACVEACHIs it not the fact that this man has been twice censured by the Inspector-General for interference in religious questions. Will he be continued in a Catholic district?
§ MR. WYNDHAMMy information does not bear that out.
§ MR. MACVEAGHI have a letter to that effect from the Inspector-General.