§ MR. MOORETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in how many cases since 1st May the police on protection duty have been overpowered by the mob and failed to frustrate their attempts connected with driving off the cattle of obnoxious 126 persons; and if the Government will supplement the civil power by the military in these districts.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am informed that in no case of cattle-driving since the date mentioned have the police been overpowered by a mob, but in several cases when the police were present in insufficient force to prevent cattle-driving their action was necessarily confined to warning the offenders and taking their names with a view to prosecution. The Answer to the concluding part of the Question is in the negative.
§ MR. MOORETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if owners and tenants of grazing lands in Ireland will be permitted to organise and offer armed resistance to lawless mobs endeavouring to drive off their cattle.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The hon. Gentleman, as one of His Majesty's Counsel, must be at least as learned in the law as I am. He must know that it is not possible to make any general statement as to the amount or nature of the resistance which any person is entitled to use in the defence of his property when he conceives that his rights are being invaded.