HC Deb 22 July 1908 vol 193 cc96-7
MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that Mr. R. A. Duke has had cattle driven off his lands in County Sligo six times since February last; how many persons have been punished in connection with these outrages; and what steps have been taken to put a stop to this state of lawlessness which exists in County Sligo.

MR. BIRRELL

The police authorities inform me that Mr. Duke's cattle have been driven off his lands on five occasions since February last. No persons have been made amenable in these cases. A police hut has been established in the locality with the object of preventing the driving of cattle from grazing farms, and the forces of the neighbouring police stations have been strengthened. An additional force of thirty police has been appointed to County Sligo under proclamation.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

In view of the fact that the erection of police huts and the bringing in of extra police has proved absolutely useless, will the right hon. Gentleman try and devise other means of putting down these outrages?

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Try martial law.

MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)

Were these cases of cattle-driving reported?

MR. BIRRELL

I cannot say.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that in the months of May and June there were twenty-eight cattle-drives in the County of Sligo in which 919 cattle, exclusive of horses and sheep, were driven, and that no person has been made amenable to justice for any of these outrages; and why none of these drives have been included as outrages on Constabulary Outrage Form No. 38.

MR. BIRRELL

I am informed by the police authorities that during the months of May and June thirty-three cattle-drives were reported from County Sligo, the number of cattle driven being 941. In two cases persons were arrested and bound to keep the peace. One of the cases was recorded as a serious offence. I have already explained in what circumstances cases of cattle-driving are recorded as serious offences, namely, when malicious injury is inflicted, or when acts calculated to cause terror are committed or personal violence is threatened. Practically all the Sligo cases of cattle-driving took place secretly at night, and there was no evidence that an indictable offence had been committed.