§ MR. DOLAN (Leitrim, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state by what authority the sergeant of police at Drumkeerin threatened to fire on a crowd of people who were proceeding; along the public road accompanied by two bands, on or about the 12th of August, in the neighbourhood of Drumkeerin, county Leitrim.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the police authorities that no threat to fire upon the people was used by the police sergeant on the occasion referred to. The police had received instructions to prevent the intimidation of certain persons, and, in pursuance of these instructions, they prevented a crowd of 400 persons, accompanied by four bands, from approaching the house of one of these persons. Anything said by the sergeant on the occasion was, I am informed, in the nature of dissuasion, and it appears to have produced the desired effect, for no disturbance took place.