§ MR. MCVEIGH (Donegal, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to a disturbance which took place at 10 p.m. in the town of Raphoe, East Donegal, on the 12th July, (during which Orangemen used firearms, to the danger of the inhabitants, discharging sixteen shots in the Diamond, wounding two Catholics, one going home with his wife, the other standing in his own door, and afterwards, when passing the Catholic church, they again used firearms, and used language calculated to cause a breach of the peace; seeing that there were twenty five police in the town, will he state why they did not quell the disturbance or since take steps to bring these men to justice; and will he say if the district inspector will have an opportunity of explaining his conduct on the occasion.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the police authorities that on the occasion in question the Raphoe Orangemen, upon their return from a demonstration, paraded the town. A drunken man staggered into the procession when passing through the Diamond, and was knocked down. A scuffle ensued between a few Orangemen and Nationalists, but no one received serious injury. Twelve policemen who were present succeeded in restoring order within ten minutes. During the disturbance about a dozen shots were fired on the outskirts of the crowd, but no one was injured by the shots which appeared to be blank cartridge. I am informed that no shots were fired, or provocative language used, when actually passing the Catholic church; but at a little distance past the church two shots 418 were fired in the air from a car. The district inspector had not returned from duty at the demonstration referred to. The police at Raphoe were in charge of a head constable, who took prompt measures to restore order. Several persons who were concerned in the disturbance obtained summonses against each other, but I am informed that they have all agreed to drop proceedings and to live on better terms in future.