§ MR. DELANYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what steps were taken to secure the apprehension of Constable Masterson between the date of his disappearance, on the 30th June, and the assizes, on the 5th July, on which date he failed to surrender to his bail; and can he say on what date, and to whom, did the district inspector at Maryborough report Masterson's disappearance.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe constable was out on his own recognisances to appear at the assizes and there was no power to apprehend him until he had failed to appear. The fact of his disappearance on 30th June was at once reported by the district inspector to the Inspector-General, and information was circulated to the police at important centres throughout the country. At the assizes a Bench warrant for the constable's arrest was obtained at the first possible moment, and is now in the hands of the police, who have made every effort to arrest the constable, but so far without effect. I have most carefully investigated the whole circum- 886 stances, and am satisfied that the suggestion of connivance on the part of the police is absolutely without foundation.
§ MR. HAVILAND BURKEWill the right hon. Gentleman see that in future members of the Royal Irish Constabulary on bail against whom a serious charge is pending are no longer permitted to retain their quarters in the police barracks?
§ MR. WALTER LONGThey will be treated in the future as in the past.
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINWill you grant a sworn inquiry into this case?
§ MR. WALTER LONGCertainly not.
§ MR. SHEEHY (Meath, S.)Did the man go away in uniform or in plain clothes?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI cannot say.
§ MR. DELANYWhy did the County Court Judge accept this man's personal security?