§ MR. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the circumstances of the prosecution of an Orangeman named 624 Edwards at the last Portadown Petty Sessions; whether he is aware that one of the witnesses for the defence swore that the people of the district would make it hot for any Catholic going to live there; whether it has been brought to his knowledge that the house of the complainant, a Catholic, was attacked and the windows broken, and that a claim for compensation for malicious injury was rejected by the Court; whether, in view of the fact that Edwards and the witnesses for the defence admitted that he had used Party expressions by cursing the Pope, he can state if the police intend to prosecute on this charge; and what special steps the authorities have taken to protect the lives and property of Catholics in this district.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOE IRELAND (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Bristol, S.I have seen a newspaper report of the proceedings in regard to this petty squabble, from which it appears that summonses for abusive language were taken against each other by two rival blacksmiths who reside two miles from Portadown. The magistrates dismissed both cases, which they said ought never to have been brought into Court. It is not the case that the complainant's windows were broken. There are no grounds for any police prosecution, nor are any special police measures necessary. The Protestant and Catholic people of the locality are generally on the most amicable terms.
§ MR. MACVEAGHDoes the right hon. Gentleman say, in fact, that no windows were broken?
§ MR. WALTER LONGYes, I said so.
§ MR. MACVEAGHIt is not true.