§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the last Petty Sessions Court of Newtownforbes there was not a single case for hearing of any kind; whether he is also aware that on the whole the charge of the Judge at Longford Spring Assizes was to congratulate the grand 1532 jury upon the state of the county; and will he in view of these circumstances now direct that the extra police at present quartered on Longford be withdrawn.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt is the fact that there was no case for hearing at the last petty sessions at Newtownforbes. It is also the case that at the recent assizes for Longford the Judge described the general condition of the county as satisfactory, but he specially excepted a certain district from this description. It is in this district alone that extra police are required, and the Inspector-General informs me that the present condition of the district is not such as would justify the withdrawal of the police.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLWould it not be possible to draft police from districts where their services are not needed instead of imposing a charge for extra police on other parts?
§ MR. BIRRELLWe are doing the best we can, but of course we cannot denude other parts of the county of police.