§ MR. DOLAN (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the case against the persons who had been prosecuted by the police for rioting at Dromahair, county Leitrim, on the 1st inst., has been dismissed; and whether, in view of the fact that the information supplied to him by the police 1443 authorities is contradicted by one of the clergymen whose arrival prevented a row, he has any further information to give to the House on the subject.
MR. BRYCEThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that the persons referred to were prosecuted for riot. The proceedings taken by the police consisted in an application that these persons should be bound to keep the peace. The defendants produced evidence to show that they had attended with their band at Dromahair in order to protest against a certain proposed scheme of sewerage and not for the purpose of taking part in the intimidatory demonstration against shopkeepers which had been announced. The magistrates accepted this explanation and refused the application against the defendants.