§ MR. HADDOCKI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the proceedings at the petty sessions at Birr, on Friday, 14th June, when Mr. Shannon had to appeal to the county inspector for order and severely criticised the police arrangements; and whether he can state why the police force was not present in sufficient numbers to preserve public order during the hearing of a serious case.
§ MR. BIRRELLA force of 100 police was assembled at Birr to preserve order on the occasion referred to. Complete order was preserved in Court, but in the course of the proceedings Mr. Shannon, resident magistrate, complained of noise outside the Court. The noise proceeded from a crowd which was fifty yards from the Court-house. The police kept the crowd back from the immediate vicinity of the Court.