§ MR. McKILLOPTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that recently a serious attack was made by a number of young men on two Catholics in the Ponytzpass police district; whether any arrests have been made in connection with the affair; whether the police have taken any action in regard to it; and whether he will direct that 1701 steps be taken to protect people from molestation by persons who frequent the roads in this district in the evenings with criminal intentions.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) At Armagh Assizes on 7th July, Patrick M'Sherry, a Catholic, was tried for firing a revolver at one Andrew Bicker, in the locality of Poyntzpass, and was acquitted. The defence set up was that M'Sherry and another man were being stoned by a crowd, whereupon M Sherry fired a shot in self-defence. No person was struck by stones on the occasion, and the police have no evidence that stones were thrown, and consequently cannot take proceedings. I am informed that party feeling is somewhat rife at Poyntzpass and that the police use all possible efforts to protect each side from molestation by the other.