§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rev. R. D. Patterson, of St. Barnabas Parish Church, Dublin, has on several occasions made complaints to the police authorities against certain individuals who were guilty of riotous conduct towards him by throwing missiles and calling him offensive names in the public street; and whether in view of the fact that this clergyman was compelled to prosecute two individuals a short time ago and his complaints to the police authorities seemed to be ignored, he will cause inquiries to be made in the matter, with the view of putting a stop to these proceedings.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) A complaint of the nature mentioned in the first part of the Question was made by the Rev. Mr. Patterson to the Chief Commissioner of Police in February last. The prosecution referred to was undertaken by the police. Acting on the suggestion of Mr. Patterson, the magistrate inflicted no punishment on the boys, but their parents were required to give sureties for their future good behaviour. The police have since adopted special measures for 813 the protection of the reverend gentleman, who recently informed them that he had no further complaint to make on the subject.