CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a series of cattle-drives took place during the latter end of October in County Clare, cattle being driven, as to twenty-five, the property of Mr. Thomas A. Gorman, J.P., as to seventy-five, the property of Mr. Hardy, and as to thirty, the property of Mr. Patrick Cahir; can he state if all have been recovered and restored to their owners; were those concerned in the outrages armed; were any shots fired; how many arrests have been made in each instance; and what sentences have been passed.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am aware that the cattle-drives referred to in the Question took place. All the cattle were recovered and restored to the owners. The person or persons who had drove these cattle did so at night and unnoticed. It is not, therefore, known whether they were armed 296 or whether they fired any shots, nor has it of course been possible to make any arrests.