§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a barn belonging to Mr. Robert Bailey, of View Forth, Cross, county Derry, was fired, and valuable property destroyed, immediately after the election for North Derry; and if any clue to the perpetrators of this outrage is in the hands of the police.
§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)Is there any ground for suggesting that the fire was caused otherwise than by accident. Is not Londonderry one of the most peaceful counties in Ireland?
MR. BRYCEOn the night of the 31st January, a barn with its contents, and a rick of hay, Mr. Bailey's property, were destroyed by fire; and a heifer, also his property, was found dead with its throat cut. The police have made every effort to discover the perpetrators of these outrages, but so far without success. They are still pursuing their investigation of the matter. It is quite true that Londonderry is usually a peaceful county, but I am sorry to say there is some reason to believe that this outrage had a political object.