§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Roscommon, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether District Superintendent Supple and a number of police visited several houses on the De Freyne Estate on Friday last and searched them for arms; if so, at whose application did the Lord-Lieutenant issue his warrant for this search, and on what grounds was the search deemed desirable; and what is the last occasion on which firearms were used in a distur- 442 bance or in connection with outrage in this district.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Answer to the first inquiry is in the affirmative. The warrants were issued on the application of the police authorities. I must, decline to state the grounds on which the search was deemed necessary. The last occasion on which firearms were used in connection with outrage in this locality was in 1877.
§ MR. DILLONI beg respectfully to ask will the right hon. Gentleman give some reasons why these irritating searches are made when no outrage has been committed for nearly thirty years?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI must respectfully decline to give reasons.
§ MR. DILLONThen at the earliest opportunity I shall bring up the question of the different treatment meted out to the North of Ireland.
§ MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)Is it not the fact that the searches are made simply for the purpose of preserving the game on Lord de Freyne's estate.
§ [No Answer was returned.]