§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the series of moonlighting outrages committed during the 1751 last three weeks in the Kilmihill and neighbouring districts of West Clare; whether he is aware that hay has been burned on the holdings of Mr. Marcus Keane, near Labasheeda, and a farmer named Collins, in the Knockena district; that an outhouse has been burned on the farm of Mr. John Crotty, D.C.; that a threatening notice, signed Captain Moonlight, has been posted on the door of a farmer named Benvaran, near Kinlea; that the house of a farmer named Fitzgerald, a district councillor, in Lower Kilmury M'Mahon, was attacked at night and the windows smashed; and that a mare belonging to Mr. Patrick Lillis has had its tail cut to the bone; whether the police have succeeded in discovering the perpetrators of these outrages or any of them; and whether it is intended to allow these proceedings to continue unchecked.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) My attention has been called to the cases in question. It is not correct to describe them as a series of moonlighting outrages committed during the last three weeks. Mr. Crotty's outhouse was burned down in September last, and the case cannot be classed as an outrage, as it cannot be determined whether the injury was malicious or not, pending the hearing of his claim for compensation. Mr. Collins does not know whether the burning of his hay was malicious or accidental, and he has not claimed compensation. The police have no knowledge of a threatening notice having been posted on the door of a farmer named Benvaran. I am informed that the breaking of Mr. Fitzgerald's windows was undoubtedly malicious. The mane and the hair of the tail of a mare belonging to Mr. Lillis were cut off, but the flesh was not injured and compensation has not been claimed. All the outrages or supposed outrages referred to in the Question occurred at night, and the police have not been able to ascertain who were the perpetrators or to make any arrests. They are using every effort to prevent misconduct in Clare, and an extra force is on duty in the county with that object.