CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in how many cases, during the month ending 25th May, have cattle been forcibly driven off farms in Ireland, and in how many cases have prosecutions followed; have extra police, and, if so, how many, been drafted into the province of Connaught to prevent cattle driving or other forms of outrage; and in how many cases are police encamped upon farms that have been raided or are threatened with cattle driving raids.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe police authorities inform me that during the month ended 25th May, approximately, twenty cases of driving cattle off farms occurred, and prosecutions have been instituted in eight of these cases. During the same period six police officers and 280 men were drafted into Connaught. In two cases policemen are encamped on farms, one being in county Roscommon and the other in King's County.
CAPTAIN CRAIGCan the right hon. Gentleman say how the disparity arises between the number of cases and the number of prosecutions?
§ MR. BIRRELLWe institute prosecutions where we get the necessary evidence.