§ MR CHARLES CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Town Tenants' League, of Athenry, served notices in April last on the grazing tenants of Caheroyan to give up their farms; that on 1st May crowds assembled with the intention of driving the cattle off the farms, but were prevented from doing so by the police; and that, owing to the intimidation and boycott to which these tenants have since been subjected, they have been compelled to give up their farms; and what steps His Majesty's Government is taking in the matter to ensure that peaceable subjects shall be able to exercise the ordinary rights and privileges of citizenship.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am informed that the tenants referred to received notices 972 to the effect mentioned, which purported to have been sent by the Town Tenants' League. The majority of the tenants removed their cattle from the farms before the 1st May. On that day crowds assembled with the object, as was understood, or driving the cattle off the remaining farms; but they were prevented from doing so by a large force of police which was assembled for the purpose. Subsequently the remaining tenants removed their cattle from the farms. In these cases the full protection of the law was given, and the Government will continue to afford such protection to all persons who need it. The police force in the Athenry district has been doubled, and the whole question of the police arrangements in the Riding is under consideration.