§ MR. HALPINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inhabitants of Ennistymon and district decided at a meeting to establish a new fair on the 22nd and 23rd of January, the landlord, who is the patentee, consenting; will he inquire why the sergeant of police told the traders of the town to take off their window posters announcing a new fair; on what authority and on whose instruction the sergeant acted; will he also say on what authority extra police were brought into Ennistymon from Lahinch, Liscannor, and Kilfenora, and posted at all the roads approaching the town on the morning of the 22nd January to prevent people entering with their cattle; whether the police took a note of the names of those who entered the town with cattle; and, if so, how many names were taken down; why were they not prosecuted as threatened by the police; and what was the expense of bringing those extra police into Ennistymon.
§ MR. CHERRYI am informed that certain shopkeepers of Ennistymon 822 arranged to hold a fair on 22nd and 23rd January in addition to the established fairs, and advertised the fact accordingly. The patentee of the existing fairs and his lessee objected, and inserted notices in the local newspapers that no fair would be held on the dates named. Mr. Macnamara, the patentee, further informed the police that he would place men on the fair green and allow no cattle to be brought there on those days. The local police sergeant mentioned this fact to the shopkeepers, and as some of them were not disposed to persist in holding the fair against the patentee's wishes, the sergeant suggested that, in the interests of peace, they should remove from their windows the notices announcing the new fair. It is usual to send six policemen from neighbouring stations to Ennistymon fair to assist in preserving the peace. This number was brought in by the police authorities on 22nd January. No extra expense was incurred. The police did not interfere with people who brought in cattle. Only a few cattle were brought into the village, and no attempt was made to put them on the fair green. The police took the names of two persons who were causing an obstruction of the street with their cattle, but as they moved the cattle away on being spoken to they were not prosecuted.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it true that the police caused the posters to be removed from the shop windows? Had they any legal right to take that action?
§ MR. CHERRYI understand that they did not. They merely suggested to the shopkeepers that it would be better, but they did not enforce it in any way. In fact, they had no legal right whatever to do so.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it not desirable that the police should refrain from making suggestions in regard to matters as to which they have no legal right to act?
§ MR. CHERRYI think suggestions coming from the police in the interests of the peace are very valuable, and constitute a very desirable way of preserving the peace of Ireland.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI may say I never take a suggestion from any policeman.