HC Deb 28 May 1906 vol 158 cc41-2
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Assistant Inspector Waters, while on a visit to a near relative in the sub-district of Belleek, county Fermanagh, visited the Belleek Royal Irish Constabulary barracks, and on meeting Sergeant Dolan, the sergeant in charge, asked him whether he was about to resign, and stated that he should resign and peremptorily requested him to do so; what, if any, specific charges did Mr. Waters bring against this sergeant, who has now been superseded; what investi- gation was held; under whose authority did Mr Waters act; has his visit to Pettigo been made at the public expense; and what explanation, if any, have the Constabulary authorities to offer with reference to this incident.

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) In December 1905, Mr. Waters, Assistant Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, inspected the county Fermanagh force, and in the course of that duty visited Belleek barracks, of which Sergeant Dolan was the sergeant in charge. The Assistant Inspector-General found the barracks in a dirty condition and the sergeant himself very dirty and untidy. As the sergeant had more than completed the service at which he was entitled to retire on pension, Mr. Waters asked him if he intended to retire, and the sergeant replied in the affirmative. Mr. Waters then informed him that unless he did so it would be his duty to recommend that he should be compulsorily retired by the Inspector-General under the provisions of the Constabulary Act of 1883, as he considered the sergeant unfitted to continue in charge of a station. No further investigation was held. The sergeant subsequently applied to be retired and was discharged on pension on the 28th February. He had completed twenty-nine years service. Mr. Waters acted under the authority of his office and with the sanction of the Inspector-General. As Mr. Waters was on public duty inspecting the force his expenses were paid out of public funds. He, however, stayed one night with a relative near Belleek.