§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Royal Irish Constabulary Reward Board accorded favourable records and money grants to the police stationed at Moy, county Tyrone, for conduct at a fire in December, 1905, and refused to make a similar reward to the constabulary at Keady for their courageous conduct at a fire in May last; can he state why this difference was made; and whether the officers on the Board were the same at the consideration of both cases.
MR. BRYCEThe Inspector-General informs me that the facts are as stated in the first part of the Question. The reason why a difference was made in the two cases was that in one case the fire was a very dangerous one, and the men rewarded exhibited exceptional courage and all were scorched and burned or otherwise injured. In the other case referred to, the duty performed by the police was not of such an exceptional nature as would warrant the granting of rewards. The officers comprising the Reward Board were the same in both cases.
§ †See (4) Debates, clvi., 220.