§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the cattle were driven off two farms in the neighbourhood of Borrisokane, county Tipperary, early on Friday morning; whether the police had previous knowledge of the intentions of the crowd, and why they were not present in sufficient force to prevent the drives; and whether, seeing that other drives in this neighbourhood are threatened, he will increase the police force in the locality to a sufficient number to prevent further lawlessness.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am informed that a few hours before this cattle drive occurred the police received information that it was likely to take place. Steps were at once taken to assemble all the available force, and eleven policemen were present when the crowd arrived. The crowd numbered about 250, and the police force was not strong enough to prevent them from driving off the cattle. Many of the offenders, however, were identified, and the evidence against them is being considered with a view to instituting a prosecution. The police will continue to take all possible measures to prevent the commission of these offences, but, as I have already stated, it would be impossible to station a sufficiently large force of police on every one of the numerous grazing farms in the country which may be threatened in this way.
§ MR. MOOREIs it not the fact-that the only farmers whose cattle are driven off in this neighbourhood are Protestants, and that no such drives take place on the farms of Catholics?
§ MR. BIRRELLI do not know.