§ * MR. MCKILLOP (Armagh. S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the posting of threatening notices in the town of Markethill, county Armagh, directed against the local Gaelic Football Club, its members and supporters, and also to the fact that on various dates, from November, 1905, up to the beginning of the present month, their grounds have been trespassed on, goal posts removed, and the ground itself strewn with broken glass, rendering it useless, and that up to the present date those responsible for these actions have not been brought to justice; and whether he will take immediate steps to put an end to such incidents.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the police authorities that, some months ago, a Gaelic football club, numbering about twenty persons, was established at Mullaghbrack, near Markethill. The first match played by the club took place on Sunday, the 25th February, and great objection to the playing of the match on a Sunday was taken by the residents of the locality, who are almost exclusively Protestant. On the 3rd March the football ground was found to be thickly strewn with broken glass, and a threatening notice, directed against the promoters of the club, was found upon a tree in the vicinity. No complaints as to trespass upon the field have been made to the police. The goal posts were removed by a member of the club for safety. The police have used every exertion to trace the offenders in this matter, but, so far, unsuccessfully. They are taking all possible measures to preserve the peace.