§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that on the 17th March, St. Patrick's Day, a force of twenty extra police, under the command of District Inspector M'Govern, of Ballymote, was drafted into the district of Castlebaldwin, situate near Riverstown, in county Sligo, he will say by whose authority, or with what object this force was drafted into a peaceable locality, and the local band prevented from parading the public highway on the occasion; and will he say whether the presence of this force 845 will entail any expense on the ratepayers of the locality.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) On 17th March an extra force of twelve men under the district inspector was drafted into the district mentioned, by order of the police authorities, with the object of preserving the peace in connection with a farm which is under the control of the Court of Chancery. I am informed that the local band was not prevented from parading the highway. The cost of the extra police is not chargeable to the ratepayers.