§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Inspector-General, Royal Irish Constabu[...]larly, has received an application from the clergyman of Desertmartin, county Derry, asking for additional police to protect the lives and the property of the people of the district; whether he is aware that during the past three months the houses of Catholics have been wrecked, shots fired through windows, and hayricks levelled to the ground, and that two men, named McKenna and McGeehan, are now lying dangerously ill, the result of being waylaid and beaten on the road; and if steps will be taken to protect the lives and property of the people in this district.
MR. BRYCEThe Inspector-General received the application referred to on the 20th instant, and he is carefully considering what steps may be necessary for the preservation of the peace in this district, either in the way of strengthening the police force at neighbouring stations or forming a temporary post at Desertmartin. It is a fact that some 1033 offences such as are mentioned in the Question have recently been committed, and four men are at present awaiting trial for seriously assaulting the men McKenna and McGeehan. I think it better to make no statement on this latter case while proceedings are sub judice.