§ MR. WALTER LONG (Dublin, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the recent ejectment of one Mulligan from a house in the village of Arva, county Cavan; whether a force of 150 police was sent from the depôt in Dublin for the protection of the sheriff and his officers in the execution of the decree of ejectment; whether this force was conveyed to the locality by special train, travelling at night, and arriving at Arva at daybreak; and, if so what was the total cost to the public of the expedition, and under what circumstances was the employment of so large a force of police and their convey- 624 ance by special train at night considered necessary.
MR. BRYCEMy attention was directed to the ejectment of Peter Mulligan at Arva, which was carried out by the sheriff on 6th September last. A force of 100, not 150, police was sent from the depot in Dublin for the protection of the sheriff and his officers. This force was conveyed by special train, but did not travel by night and arrive at daybreak; it left Dublin at daybreak, and arrived at Arva about eight o'clock in the morning. The total cost to the public in connection with the employment of the extra force amounts to about £136. The employment of the force, and their conveyance by special train, was considered necessary, because there was reason to apprehend that considerable resistance would be offered to the sheriff in the execution of his duty.