§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the 6th September, Mr. H. V. Macnamara, of Ennistymon House, County Clare, sent warning to Dublin Castle that cattle-drives were contemplated upon his Doolin property; why no preventive measures were taken upon that intimation; whether cattle-drives took place on the 9th, 12th, 19th, and 22nd of September, in which cattle were treated with great cruelty; whether he is aware that these proceedings were instigated by the United Irish League; and whether he intends to take proceedings against the persons who instigated and organised these disorderly occurrences.
§ MR. BIRRELLI received from Mr. Macnamara a letter dated 6th September, complaining of a meeting of the United Irish League on the preceding Sunday, but making no reference to cattle-driving. It is the fact that cattle-drives took place on the dates mentioned in the Question. As regards the alleged cruelty to the cattle, I am informed that claims for compensation for injury to the cattle are pending, and it would, therefore, be undesirable to make any statement which would prejudge the matter. I have no information that these cattle drives were instigated or organised by the United Irish League. Forty-four persons were proceeded against for taking part in the cattle-drives, and of these one gave bail to keep the peace, and forty-three were sent to prison in default of bail. The police force of County Clare has been largely increased with the object of 314 dealing with these agrarian disturbances, and fifty of the extra force are quartered in a house rented from Mr. Macnamara in the neighbourhood of his property.