HC Deb 01 August 1906 vol 162 cc1063-4
MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any complaint has reached his office in Dublin as to the action of Superintendent Talbot, of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, in interfering on the 25th June last with the discharge of his duties, in the Kingstown Police Court, by Mr. Hawe, a reporter on one of the Dublin daily newspapers, by ordering him out of a seat at the table in the Court in question; if so, has any action been taken, or is it intended to take any action on the complaint; and whether any policeman has any authority of his own to order any representative of the Press or any member of the public to sit or not to sit in any particular place in any Court.

MR. BRYCE

A complaint to the effect stated has been received, and the matter has been inquired into by the Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police. The Chief Commissioner is satisfied that Superintendent Talbot's action on the occasion in question was taken with the object of preserving the usual arrangements which prevail in the Kingstown Police Court. It appears that Mr. Hawe was sitting at the table reserved for solicitors, and the superintendent indicated to him the usual seat occupied by reporters. The general arrangements of the Court are made- by the magistrates, and the police on duty carry them out. The Chief Commissioner is of opinion that it would have been wiser for the superintendent to have left the matter in the hands of the court sergeant, whose duty it is to see that the magistrate's arrangements are carried out. No incivility, however, appears to have been intended by the superintendent, who subsequently expressed to Mr. Hawe his regret that that gentleman had misunderstood his remarks.

MR. CLANCY

I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's Answer that the superintendent admitted that he had acted wrongly on this occasion. Has the superintendent apologised to the gentleman whom he insulted?

MR. BRYCE

I do not think it is a case of insult. It was mentioned to the superintendent and he expressed his regret. It is not an incident of very great moment, and I think it might now be regarded as closed.