§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the action of the police in the districts of Ardrahan and Claren Bridge in forcing their way into country houses against the will of the owners; 649 will he say if they are at liberty to search houses, break boxes and furniture, without a warrant; and will he give instructions to have such action put an end to.
MR. BRYCEOn February 27th the police arrested, upon warrants, three persons who are charged with having fired into a dwelling-house; and I am informed by the inspector general that, upon making the arrests, the police searched the houses in which the prisoners resided and, in two instances, discovered unlicensed fire-arms. The searches were carried out with the permission of the owners of the houses, who are the fathers of the persons charged. I am informed that boxes were not broken open, and that no furniture was injured.