HC Deb 18 July 1904 vol 138 cc277-9
MR. SLOAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ire- land whether he is aware that the written statement of the Reverend Father Gleeson to Sir Antony MacDonnell demanding the transfer of Sergeant Ryan and Constable Laidley from Roundstone was refused to the latter in the first: instance; and that, after repeated appeals from the men to be heard, the district inspector was ordered to hear them; and, if so, will he state the result of their evidence.

MR. SLOAN

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Reverend Father Gleeson, P.P., of Roundstone, county Galway, wrote a statement to Sir Antony MacDonnell, and demanded the removal of Sergeant Ryan and Constable 1Laidley from his district; and that a secret inquiry was held by the district inspector which resulted in the transfer of Constable Laidley and the sergeant being threatened with reduction from his rank; and, if so, will he cause an inquiry to be held in this case.

MR. WYNDHAM

Both Questions refer to the same incident which occurred nearly a year ago. The Rev. Mr. Gleeson wrote to the Under-Secretary on the 17th August last, and complained of the conduct of Sergeant Ryan and Constable Laidley in respect to a display of flags and banners from licensed premises at Roundstone. The rev. gentleman did not demand the removal of the men. The Under-Secretary referred the complaint to the Inspector-General. The district inspector to whom the complaint was referred by the Inspector-General, made a report on it, and the county inspector in submitting the report recorded his personal opinion of the action of the sergeant and constable. The Inspector-General saw no reason to differ from the view of the county inspector, and his opinion to this effect was communicated to the men concerned. The sergeant was at the same time informed that if ho acted in a similarly indiscreet way in future the Inspector-General would consider him unfitted for his rank. The constable was not warned for removal in connection with this incident. As a matter of fact, the Inspector-General's decision to remove the constable was written on the 15th August, two days before the Rev. Mr. Gleeson made his complaint. The sergeant and constable represented to the district inspector that he had not given them an opportunity of explaining their action, and the county inspector of his own motion considered their explanations. These were forwarded to headquarters, and as a result the sergeant was exonerated from blame by the Inspector-General. In reply to the concluding query, I do not propose to intervene in a matter affecting discipline, with which the Inspector-General is competent to deal, and with which, as a matter of fact, he dealt nearly a year ago.