§ MR. DELANYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he say what officer was in charge of the police at Rathdowney, Queen's County, on 20th June last; and whether it was an officer of inferior rank who ordered the baton charge, and, if so, will he state his name and rank.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) District Inspector Thomas O'Brien was in charge of the police at Rathdowney during the earlier part of the day, and upon the arrival of District Inspector W. S. Irwin, the latter, as senior officer, took charge. Neither of the district inspectors was present at the place and time when the 832 police were ordered to use their batons against the rioters. The baton charge was ordered by Head Constable James Spence, who was in immediate charge of the police at the moment. I refrain from making any statement as to the circumstances in which the baton charge was ordered, seeing that a charge of riot is pending against a number of men.