HC Deb 09 December 1908 vol 198 cc473-4
MR. LONSDALE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the number of agrarian crimes of firing at the person and firing into dwellings during the period of ten months ended 31st October, namely seventy-one, is greater by sixty than in the year 1905, and greater also than in any previous year since 1882; and if he will state whether it is his intention to adopt the measures which have proved so efficacious in past years in diminishing this form of crime.

MR. BIRRELL

The facts are as stated in the first part of the Question. In reply to the hon. Member's concluding inquiry I would refer him to my Answer to his Question of 19th October.

MR. LONSDALE

But has not the number of shooting outrages increased in the last year?

MR. BIRRELL

I have answered that Question.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)

Is it not the fact that immediately on the repeal of the Crimes Act the number of outrages began to increase and continued to increase from that moment?

MR. BIRRELL

I do not think that is so.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

But it is so.

MR. J. MACVEAGH

Is it not the case that the increase in the outrages is owing to the fact that in the north of Ireland they manufacture a lot of bad whisky which is sold elsewhere?

MR. P. MEEHAN (Queen's County, Leix)

May I ask if included in the Return is the case in which four Protestant planters fired on two Catholic peasants in my county last May?

* MR. SPEAKER

Notice should be given of that.