HC Deb 05 February 1908 vol 183 c877
MR. LONSDALE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, what steps have been taken to discover the men who fired at and wounded Mr. White-Blake, J.P., and his mother, as they were returning from mass on Sunday, 17th November last; and with what result.

MR. BIRRELL

The police authorities inform me that every effort has been made to discover the offenders in this case, but sufficient evidence to justify an arrest has not yet been obtained.

SIR F. BANBURY

Is it not the fact that a considerable number of persons saw the outrage committed?

MR. BIRRELL

Mr. White-Blake was under police protection at the time. Two policemen were behind him and two others were within call when the shots were fired from the plantation, but I am sorry to say they entirely failed to see the people, if there were more than one, by whom the shots were fired.

MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

Did not Mr. White-Blake complain that instead of endeavouring to secure the arrest of the offenders some people who heard the shots cheered?

MR. BIRRELL

I cannot charge my memory with the exact facts, but I know enough to satisfy me that the outrage did not receive that reprobation which I should have hoped it would.