§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that violence was used upon Mr. Thomas Higgins, J.P. at the proclaimed meeting at Carrowkeel on April 30th last; that without provocation on his part he was seized by six constables and thrown over a stone wall; that at the same meeting Councillor Kennedy, of Dunmore, was seized by several constables and thrown to the ground; and that other acts of violence were perpetrated; 970 and whether such conduct on the part of the constabulary has been sanctioned by the Government.
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo violence—properly so-called—was used to either of the gentlemen named, but only sufficient force was exerted to prevent the proclaimed meeting from being held. The hon. Member himself and Mr. Higgins. followed by a crowd of 200 persons, including Mr. Kennedy, were stopped by the police when nearing Carrowkeel. The county inspector informed them that no meeting would be allowed. Mr. Higgins attempted to force his way through the police, and, on being prevented, jumped, over a low wall into a field and commenced to address the people. He refused to desist, and was then pushed on by a constable, whereupon he jumped back into the road, and the crowd returned by the way they had come. Mr. Higgins was not thrown over a wall, nor was Mr. Kennedy thrown to the ground. The action of the police on the occasion received the approval of the Government.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what the Irish Government's definition of violence, "properly so-called," is? And will he say whether anything short of breaking a, man's skull is considered violence?
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe meaning, of that sentence is that the police had orders to prevent the meeting from being held, and I am informed that they used no violence in carrying out their orders. But they compelled those who tried to hold the meeting to desist.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Did the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to get independent testimony as to the action of the police; or is the report on which he has based his approval of the action of the police the report of the-police themselves?
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo, Sir; the only information I have is that given to me by the police who were responsible. I have read other accounts, and I have no reason to believe that the police 971 departed from their strict duty in the matter, or gave an inaccurate account of what occurred.
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINThey did throw this man violently over the fence.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENCould not the right hon. Gentleman have consulted the hon. Member for Galway in this House? Does he not think it worth while, before taking the word of the police, to consult a Member of this House who is on an equal footing with himself in this House?
§ MR. WALTER LONGThat is a most astonishing Question. The hon. Member for Galway is the complainant in the matter. [NATIONALIST cries of "And the police are the defendants."] All I can do is to give to the House the information I have received, I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the information I have given.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Is it proposed to suppress the expression of public opinion in Ireland?
§ MR. WALTER LONGJudging by recent events, I should say certainly not.