§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether District Inspector Redmond, now stationed at Belfast, where he recently brought charges against a head constable, on the strength of an anonymous letter, did, prior to his leaving Maryborough, Queen's County, receive 529 several anonymous letters, as well as an authenticated letter, preferring serious disciplinary charges against the sergeant, then in charge of the Heath (Mary-borough) station, and now retired from the force since the transfer of District Inspector Redmond to Belfast; what action Mr. Redmond took regarding these charges; and whether District Inspector Redmond and the sergeant referred to are both freemasons.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that it is the fact that District Inspector Redmond when stationed at Maryborough, received several anonymous letters, as well as one which bore the writer's name, alleging neglect of duty against the sergeant in charge of Heath station. The district inspector fully investigated each of the complaints and found them to be groundless, and the result was duly reported to the county inspector. District Inspector Redmond is a freemason, and it is believed that the sergeant, who has since retired from the force, was also a freemason. It is not the case that the district inspector brought charges against a head constable in Belfast on the strength of an anonymous letter, but the receipt of such a letter led to the discovery of evidence upon which the Inspector-General directed a charge to be preferred.