§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state whether any memorial was presented to the Lords Justices by Crawford prior to his release from prison, after conviction for illegal coining at Belfast, and, if so, what were the terms of the memorial; whether the receipt of the memorial was followed by further investigation on the part of the police authorities; whether the removal of Constable Graham, the degradation of Constable Fraser, and the admonition to District Inspector Clayton were consequent on these investigations, and, if so, on what grounds; and whether there are any other circumstances in connection with the case which he can communicate to the House.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)It is the fact that a memorial was presented by Crawford, as stated in the Question, asking for an inquiry into his case, and an investigation followed, and the persons referred to in the Question were dealt with as mentioned. It has been determined to have an inquiry instituted forthwith into the organisation, discipline, and past and present working of the police force employed in Belfast, and this inquiry will be conducted by Mr. Matthew Bourke, K.C., Mr. Ulick Burke, Resident Magistrate, and Mr. Singleton, Assistant Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary (retired).