§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what grounds District Inspector O'Shee was selected for the position of adjutant; whether he is a first or a second-class district inspector, and what place he holds on the seniority list; what are the extra emoluments, financial and otherwise, attaching to the position; whether it was previously offered to any senior officer; and whether this post in the Royal Irish Constabulary was ever before held by a second-class district inspector, and, if so, on what occasion.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Inspector General informs me that he appointed District Inspector O'Shee to be adjuant as being, in his opinion, the officer best fitted for the post. Mr. O'Shee is second in seniority of the second-class district inspectors. The adjutant receives a special allowance of 4s. a day, and is provided with an unfurnished residence. The Inspector-General did not offer the post to any other officer. He is not aware that it was ever before held by a second-class district inspector.
†See (4) Debates, elxxvii., 118-119.
§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that District Inspector O'Shee, stationed at the constabulary depot, recently charged and punished Constable Fanning of the Royal Irish Constabulary band for alleged drunkenness, in direct contravention of the code which provides that every charge of drunkenness must be submitted to the Inspector-General; that the Inspector-General has acquitted the constable, and expressed his regret that the charge was made; and whether, seeing that the punishment inflicted by the district inspector, viz., a stoppage of the constable's baud fees, is continued against Constable fanning on a charge of careless playing, he will say when this charge was brought for the first time, and what opportunity the constable was afforded of vindicating his character.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The bandmaster reported Constable Fanning for having neglected to play his instrument during a public performance of the band, and stated that the constable appeared to be under the influence of drink at the time. The adjutant admonished the constable, and expressed the intention of punishing him by temporarily stopping his band fees. The constable appealed, and an inquiry was held, as the result of which the Inspector-General exonerated the constable as regards the alleged drinking, but confirmed the stoppage of his band fees for carelessness whilst the band was playing. A previous complaint had been made against the constable in connection with his musical duties. The constable will have full opportunity of redeeming his character by performing his duty properly in future.