MR. MACVEIGHTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the drafting of 112 extra police and two officers into the peaceable town of Ballybofey, East Donegal, on July 12th; and, if so, will he give the names and state on what Report and by whose authority this extra force was quartered in Ballybofey, or if a breach of the peace occurred; and, if so, how many were injured, how many are now in hospital, and how many in gaol; who is to pay the expense of bringing this force from distant counties, or if the expense incurred by their visit will be made a charge on the rates of East Donegal, and if not out of what fund will the expense come, or can he say during the last six years how many extra police were drafted into Ballybofey on the 12th July each year, and what special duties were performed by them to warrant the annual increase in their number.
420 (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) On July 12th an extra force of 105 men and two officers was drafted into Ballybofey for the preservation of the peace in connection with a large demonstration at that place. This force was assembled on the authority of the Inspector-General and with the approval of the Government. It is, happily, the case that no breach of the peace occurred, but precautions were required. Sixty men of the extra force were drawn from other counties, and half of the cost of these will be chargeable on local rates, the other half being-borne by the Constabulary Vote. During the previous six years no extra police from other counties wore drafted into Ballybofey on the 12th of July, but in 1898, which was the last occasion on which a large Orange demonstration took place in that locality, a force of 80 extra police was brought into the adjacent town of Stranorlar.