§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that some thirty or forty persons were served with summonses by the police for participation in the disturbances in connection with the eviction of Mr. Ward, at Loughrea; that a meeting of those summonsed was held, at which it was decided that, if fines were imposed by a packed jury, they would go to gaol in a body rather than pay the fines; whether in view of this threat the summonses were withdrawn; and will he say by whose authority the summonses were issued in the first instance, and by whose authority they were withdrawn.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) No persons were summoned for participation in any disturbance in connection with the eviction of Mr. Ward, at Loughrea, but 1100 summonses were issued against some persons for being drunk and disorderly. I am not aware that any such meeting as is mentioned in the Question was held. The summonses were not withdrawn in view of the alleged threat, or of any threat. They were issued in the ordinary way, under the authority of the Inspector-General, and were withdrawn by his order and with the approval of the Irish Government.