CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a public meeting to denounce a farmer named Cuffe was announced as intended to be held at Camcuill, county Sligo, on April 22nd, and that, although the meeting was prevented by the police from being held at Camcuill, it was in fact held at Dromore West in the neighbourhood, and that two hon. Members of this House attended and spoke at the meeting; will he say whether the Irish Government has a shorthand report of the speeches at the meeting and the language used, inciting outrages towards Cuffe; whether, seeing that the only offence of which Cuffe is alleged to be guilty is that he recently purchased a small estate sold by the devisee in trust, he will say if it has been necessary to afford Cuffe police protection; how many police were employed in preventing the meeting being held at Camcuill; and who is to pay the expense of their employment.
MR. BRYCEA public meeting was summoned for Camcuill, but the placard convening it contained no reference to the case of Mr. Cuffe. The meeting was, 574 in fact, held at Dromore West. No shorthand report of the speeches made at that place was taken by the police, and the Inspector-General informs me that no speeches inciting to outrage against Mr. Cuffe were delivered. It has not been found necessary to afford police protection to Mr. Cuffe. A force of seventy police was assembled at Camcuill to preserve order and prevent any possible attempt at intimidation. This force was drawn from the county establishment, and no expense, save that of the usual travelling and subsistence allowances, was incurred. This expense will be defrayed from the Constabulary Vote.