§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the list of malicious injury claims for which damages were awarded at Gort (county Galway) Quarter Sessions on 26th April last, which included one for cutting a boat adrift from her moorings, four for pulling down stone walls surrounding grazing farms, one for cutting the tails off cattle, and two for burning hay; whether he is aware that there were also a number of similar claims at the Quarter Sessions Courts at Ballinasloe, Portumna, Galway, and Tuam; and whether these outrages were of an agrarian nature, and what steps the Government is taking to deal with this class of crime in Galway.
§ MR. WALTER LONGYes, Sir; my attention has been directed to the number of cases in which claims for compensation were made at the recent quarter sessions in the county of Galway. Fifteen such claims were made, and compensation was awarded in each case. In two cases, however, appeals have been lodged. I may point out that there were no cases of cutting the tails off cattle, but that there were two cases in which the hair was removed from the tails. Of the fifteen outrages, eleven were of an agrarian character. A considerable force of additional police has been drafted into the county for the protection of the person and property of individuals, and a marked improvement in the condition of affairs has, I am glad to say, since manifested itself throughout the entire county.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGHave the police been able to bring anyone to justice?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI must ask for notice of that.
§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)Were any of the constables in this district ever under the charge of ex-Sergeant Sheridan, who knows more about cattle maiming than anybody else?
§ [No Answer was returned.]