§ MR. DUFFYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the night of Sunday, 9th February, a number of young men on their way to attend a dance in the townland of Clounty, Scariff, county Clare, were set upon and assaulted by some men in the employ of Mr. Bugler; whether, on the night in question, one of the men, on leaving the dance-house on his way home, was struck with a stone; whether the police were in ambush twenty yards away; and can he explain why they failed or refused to arrest his assailant.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The police have no knowledge that the fact is as stated in the first part of the Question, and no complaint to that effect has been made to them. An allegation, however, was made to the police that a stone was thrown into the yard of a house where dancing was taking place and that a man was struck by the stone, but no evidence to that effect is forthcoming. The police were 130 yards away at the time and saw nothing of the matter. No charge was preferred against any person, and consequently the police did not refuse to arrest anyone. It is open to any person who may be aggrieved to take proceedings by summons.