§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the neighbourhood of Athenry the police have been in the habit of visiting the houses of the people at night, forcing the people to get out of bed to be inspected and interrogated; and will he say by what authority such domiciliary visits are carried out.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe police have visited certain houses in the district of Athenry for the purpose of obtaining information in respect to the prevention and detection of crime. This i a fundamental duty of the police 296 which, as peace officers, they are bound to discharge. There is not the smallest foundation for the suggestion that they have forced people to get out of bed to be inspected and interrogated. The visits of the police were not made at times when the inmates of houses were in bed, and they have always been careful not to cause inconvenience in any way to the persons visited.
§ MR. DILLONMy information is that the people were compelled to get out of bed.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI have no information as to the precise hours, but I am informed that the visits were not made at times at which the people ought to be in bed.
§ MR. DILLONWhat was the hour? By what right do the police insist upon entering people's houses without warrant?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI will endeavour to ascertain whether there is any further information as to the hour at which these proceedings were taken.