§ MR. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that it has been announced that a body of Orangemen, with bands and banners, are to parade the streets of Carrickmore, county Tyrone, on the coming July 12th, and that their coming is viewed with resentment; is he aware that the district is overwhelmingly Catholic, and that the presence on such a day of men with Orange emblems, and bands playing party tunes, is calculated to create ill feeling and likely to incite to riot; and whether, seeing that the late Government refused to allow Catholic processionists to march through Protestant strongholds and vice versa, will he take steps to forbid the intended procession to take place.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The matter in question is being inquired into. The necessary steps for the preservation of the peace will be taken, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement as to the particular steps which may be necessary. It is much to be desired that both parties would agree to desist simultaneously from the practice of marching with party emblems and bands playing party tunes, a practice which has frequently caused breaches of the peace.