§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the police, who have recently entered the houses of families in the neighbourhood of Athenry, have done so without first obtaining the permission of the owners; whether the police were furnished with special warrants or orders to enter the houses of certain individuals, or whether the police patrol exercises a discretion to enter the house of any person they think fit to enter; what instructions are given to police as to the action they are to take in the event of any resistance being offered to their entrance, and are they instructed to immediately leave the house if ordered by the owner to do so; and were there any criminal charges against the persons whose houses have been entered by the police.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe police have recently entered the houses of certain persons with their implied permission, as anybody else would enter. No express permission was asked for, and no objection was made to their entrance
† See (4) Debates, cxliv., 1275.1125 or presence; had any such objection been made, they would have at once yielded to the objection, unless they had come to execute a warrant or had legal justification for remaining. No special warrants were issued nor special orders given on the occasions referred to. A patrol is sometimes instructed to make inquiries at a particular house and to enter it for that purpose, and sometimes it is left to their own discretion to enter for such purpose. The doors are often found open; they are never forced; and any objection, as I have said, to the police entering or remaining in the house would be at once yielded to. No criminal charges were made against any of the persons whose houses were entered.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Did the police visit any of the landlords' houses on the occasion?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI cannot say, Sir; but the police in England have often visited my house.
§ MR. DILLONIs it proposed to continue to allow the police who patrol this district to exercise this discretion of entering the houses of any peasant during the night?
§ MR. WALTER LONGIf I had reason to think that the police entered the houses of the people against their wishes I would give instructions that the practice should be discontinued; but no such information has reached me.
§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)Did the police enter the right hon. Gentleman's house after 10.30 at night without his permission?
§ MR. WALTER LONGMy permission has never been asked, but the house has been visited late at night.
§ MR. DILLONDo you leave your door open?
§ MR. BLAKE (Longford, S.)I wish to know how the permission he infers was "implied." Was any effort made before opening the door and walking in to know if the occupants of the house were willing?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI am informed that the police constantly visit the houses of the residents in the district in which they are stationed, and that they are on the best possible terms with the population. No objection was raised to these visits on the part of the inhabitants. If, however, I had any reason to believe that the police exercised their powers in an improper way I would take care to see that regulations were issued to prevent it.
§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)Will the right hon. Gentleman say, for the information of English Members, what object the police serve in invading the privacy of those homes with or without permission?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI assume that the police have a general duty in regard to the protection of life and property in their district.
§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N)What was the purpose for which the police visited the house of the right hon. Gentleman?