CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any members of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been transferred from Loughrea since the date of Sir Antony MacDonnell's visit in connection with the Ward affair; if so, whether such transfer was part of the terms made; can he state whether they were transferred at their own expense; where are they now; did the suggestion to transfer them originate with the county inspector or district inspector or an official at Dublin Castle; and can he state why they were transferred.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary that since June last, the date referred to in the Question, eleven 371 members of the force have been transferred from Loughrea Two of these transfers were made on the application of the men concerned, and were, in accordance with the practice in such cases, carried out at the expense of the men. The other transfers were carried out at public expense. One of the men was transferred to county Dublin; one to county Kildare; one to county Sligo; and one to county Roscommon. In the remaining seven cases the men were transferred to different stations in the East Riding of Galway. With the exception of the cases of the two men transferred on their own application, all the transfers were made on the recommendation of the local officers, and solely to meet the exigencies and requirements of the service, and for no other reason. I do not know what is meant by the inquiry whether such transfer was part of the terms made; but I wish to repudiate in the strongest possible manner, as I have already done on several occasions, the suggestion that any terms whatever were made on the occasion referred to. I may add that the Under-Secretary was in no way concerned in these transfers, which were carried out without his knowledge by the Inspector General.