HC Deb 27 July 1906 vol 162 cc65-6
MR. McKILLOP (Armagh, S.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on July 11th a body of Orangemen, with drums and revolvers, created a serious disturbance in the main street, Keady, county Armagh, by breaking windows, throwing stones, and firing numerous revolver shots without the slightest provocation; and whether, seeing that only two or three policemen were on duty in the locality at the time, he will see that proper steps will in future be taken to prevent a recurrence of such disorders.

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the police authorities that the facts are substantially as stated in the first part of the Question. An Orange drumming party appears to have suddenly invaded a Nationalist quarter, from which a shot was then fired. The drumming party retaliated by firing shots and throwing stones, four panes of glass being broken. A force of thirty extra police was in the town for duty in respect of the celebrations on the following day. Portion of this force was at once turned out, and the disturbance was quelled in a few minutes. A prosecution is pending against one man for throwing stones. The police were unable to detect those who fired shots on the occasion.