§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the disturbed state of the district of Gort, county Galway; whether he will state the number of outrages reported from this district during the past twelve months, specifying the number of cases of firing at and wounding the person, firing into dwelling houses, and incendiary fires, respectively; whether during the last three months the outrages have been more numerous than at any previous period; and whether he will explain why no adequate measures have been taken to deal with this disorder.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe number of serious offences reported as having occurred 532 in the constabulary district or Gort during the twelve months ending 31st January, 1908, is forty-one, which includes two cases of firing at and wounding, fourteen cases of firing into dwellings, and five cases of incendiary fire. Of the forty-one cases, ten occurred in the three months last past, eighteen in the preceding three months, and six and seven respectively in the two earlier periods of three months. The normal police force of the district consists of thirty-eight men. In August last an extra force of eleven men was sent to the district, and during the past month the force has been further strengthened by the addition of forty-four men.
§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the agent on this property in the course of the last few weeks was fined for assaulting a tenant in the rent office, and that on the evening of 22nd January the same agent fired several shots at the people, to their fear and terror? Are these outrages included in the list?
§ MR. BIRRELLI hope they are.