HC Deb 07 November 1906 vol 164 cc567-8
MR. LONSDALE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he received any complaints as to the behaviour of police officers at Galway during the recent election; if so, whether he has taken any stops to investigate the truth of these complaints; and whether there was in fact any foundation for them.

MR. BRYCE

I received a complaint on Thursday last regarding the action of the police at the Galway Election. It. often happens, and must almost inevitably happen, that those who are in the middle | of an excited crowd where there is some disorder receive impressions different from those received by other persons, and which subsequent inquiry shows not to have been well founded. I am satisfied on a review of the facts which have come to my knowledge that the police behaved ' with firmness and without either partisan- ship or any more severity than was | required under the circumstances and I do not see any necessity for any further investigation.

MR. LONSDALE

Did not the right hon. Gentleman receive a telegram from the hon. Member for East Mayo asserting that the police behaved disgracefully?

MR. BRYCE

I did receive a telegram. I have not the words of it here.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

Is the right hon. Gentleman's Answer to the Question founded on reports received from the incriminated parties—the police?

MR. BRYCE

Not solely. Facts and circumstances have come to my knowledge from various sources.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Inasmuch as there is a conflict of testimony between the hon. Member for East Mayo, who was on the spot and saw what took place, and the police authorities, who are the incriminated persons, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of having a sworn inquiry?

MR. BRYCE

I do not think a sworn inquiry into what occurred during the heat of an election, when people were too excited to make proper observations, would serve any useful purpose.

MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman assured that adequate protection was afforded to the hon. Member for East Mayo against Nationalist violence?

MR. BRYCE

I do not believe violence of any kind was offered to that hon. Member. No imputation of that kind has been made by him.