MR, J. P. FARRELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on St. Patrick's Day last, at 9 a.m., the police force paraded to do duty under District Inspectors Stoddart, M'Mahon, and Redington at Lurgan were ordered to remove the sprigs of shamrock from their helmets lest offence would be given to the Orangemen of the town when they saw them wearing them; that a young constable, who in his temporary absence from the ranks had not heard the order, was ordered to remove the sprig of shamrock from his helmet, and can he say whether there is anything in the police code requiring this to be done; and whether he is aware that the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks were presented with bunches of shamrock on the same day by Lord Roberts.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) No such order was given to the police paraded 297 for duty on this occasion, but one of the district inspectors advised a constable who was wearing a large bunch of shamrock on his helmet that it would be more prudent to remove it until he returned from duty. The remaining constables were not wearing shamrock. There is no regulation in the Code forbidding the police to wear shamrock.