§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state who was responsible for the attack made on the Clonguish band at Newtonforbes, on Saturday 7th December, 1907; whether he is aware that the police, on this occasion, assaulted men, women, and children promiscuously, injuring several old women badly; and will he direct an inquiry to be made into the conduct of the official responsible on the occasion.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The police authorities inform me that no attack was made by the police on the Clonguish band on the occasion referred to. The bandsmen and their followers were most disorderly, and the police, in pursuance of their duty, caused them to move on and go to their band room. The occasion was two o'clock a.m. on Sunday, 8th December. The police committed no assaults, and no one—man, woman, or child—was injured.