§ MR. THOMAS F. SMYTHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if his attention has been called to Class 3, Vote 19, in the Civil Service and Revenue Departments Estimates for the year ending 31st March 1906, where a special sub-head has been introduced into the account, with the sanction of the Treasury, to recoup an officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary the sum of £10 5s. 10d., which was stolen from his office in the barracks; and if he can state in what part of Ireland this occurred, and if any investigation will be held, so that the perpetrator of the deed may be found out and brought to justice, and thus prevent such acts of theft from being committed in future.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe hon. Member refers to the Appropriation Accounts, not 871 the Estimates, for the year ending 31st March 1906. The sum referred to, which consisted of public money, was stolen together with a locked cash-box from the office of the District Inspector at Corofin, county Clare, in May, 1905, while the officer was absent on duty. A strict investigation was instituted, and every effort made to trace the offender, but without success. The Irish Government were satisfied that there was no contributory negligence on the part of the officer, and upon their recommendation the Treasury authorised the loss to be made good from the Vote. The Inspector-General informs me that losses of the kind are extremely rare.