§ MR. J. P. FARRELL) (Longford, N.To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain why the police force in Longford rendered no assistance to the stewards of the Longford county races to preserve order on the course at Greenfield, Longford, on the 17th May; whether any secret instructions were given to them to refrain from giving any active assistance for the preservation of order and the safety of human life; arid whether he has any report showing that a man was killed at this meeting, and as to the conduct of the police in keeping order on this occasion.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The police attended these races for the preservation of the peace. The regulations prohibit the employment of police in keeping the course at races unless their services for that purpose are specially applied for, in which case a charge is made. No complaint against the police has been received in connection with the circumstances in which a man was knocked down and killed when trying to stop a runaway horse at these races.