§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if ho is aware that Head Constable Wilson and a constable from Listowel visited Lisiniska protection post in the month of October, 1904, and that the head constable after that visit reported that his bicycle received sixteen punctures and the constable's bicycle six punctures, and that the constables in the post (Coughlin and Kilcawley) punctured the bicycles or caused or encouraged some other person to puncture them, and that the constables so charged were punished or transferred as a punishment, though the head constable and constable were met by a patrol from Listowel Station that night returning from the post riding at full speed on the bicycles that had received sixteen and six punctures, respectively; whether, seeing that subsequently the fact was brought under the notice of the county inspector that the charge brought by the head constable against the two constables was false, he will say whether the county inspector took any steps to inform the two constables that he had been made aware of the fact that there could be sufficient evidence produced to establish beyond any doubt that they were falsely charged and wrongfully punished; and whether he took any steps to wipe out that punishment so wrongfully inflicted on the two constables, and to have the conduct of the head constable brought under the notice of the Inspector-General for having brought this malicious charge against two innocent men.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Inspector-General informs me that Head 1525 Constable Wilson reported that, when at Lisiniska protection post on 10th September, 1904, his bicycle tyres and those of a constable who accompanied him were punctured in a number of places. The head constable, however, made no suggestion as to the persons by whom the injuries were committed. The head constable and constable rode their bicycles to Listowel that night, but were not met by any patrol. Constables Coughlan and Kilcawley were reported for breaches of discipline and for irregular discharge of their duties, and for these offences they were transferred from the protection post. As no charge was made against the constables in connection with the injury to the bicycles the county inspector took no steps in the matter, and there were no grounds for reporting the conduct of the head constable.