HC Deb 05 June 1905 vol 147 cc718-9
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to a statement made in a speech by Sir Douglas Brooke, Baronet, a magistrate and deputy lieutenant of the county of Fermanagh, at Maguiresbridge in that county, while addressing an audience of Orangemen, that at the time of Mr. Gladstone's second Home Rule Bill he had given out rifles to his Protestant tenantry and had taught some of those Protestants how to shoot those rifles straight, and that there were a good many of those rifles still in the country, any search will be instituted for concealed arms among the Protestant tenantry of Sir Douglas Brooke, similar to the search for arms instituted by the direction of the Government among the Catholic tenants of the De Freyne Estate; and, if not, whether he can explain the different methods of administration with respect to the concealment of arms by Orangemen and Catholics.

MR. ATKINSON

In reply to a Question asked on Monday last†, my right hon. friend declined to make any statement as to the intention to search for unlicensed † See page 95. firearms. No question of religion arises in connection with, this matter. Searches are made when there is reason to believe that arms are illegally kept.

MR. MACVEAGH

As this gentleman said he had given out arms, why do not the Government search for them as in other districts?

MR. ATKINSON

The statement was made twenty years ago.

MR. MACVEAGH

Nonsense, it was made a few months ago.

MR. ATKINSON

I quite understood it was made during the discussions on the Home Rule movement.

MR. MACVEAGH

It was only delivered two or three months ago.

MR. ATKINSON

Then I will ask the hon. Member to put down another Question.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

The Chief Secretary ought to be here.

MR. MACVEAGH

Is this man to remain on the bench?

MR. ATKINSON

The matter was laid before the Lord Chancellor, who replied that he knew nothing about this speech, and does not think it very important to consider what was said in reference to incidents of many years ago, and which may never recur.

MR. MACVEAGH

In view of the fact that the speech was made so recently, will the right hon. Gentleman again draw the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the matter?

MR. ATKINSON

Certainly.