HC Deb 19 October 1908 vol 194 cc715-6
MR. LONSDALE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of outrages in Ireland recorded as agrarian and non-agrarian, respectively, in which firearms were used, during the period of nine months ended 30th September, 1908: what was the number of such outrages in the corresponding period of 1906 and 1907, respectively; and from what date was the Peace Preservation Act of 1881, which placed restrictions on the issue of licences to keep firearms and provided other safeguards against the traffic in such weapons, withdrawn.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) During the nine months ending 30th September in each of the years mentioned the numbers of outrages in which firearms have been used in Ireland were as follows: 1906 agrarian eighteen, non-agrarian twenty-nine: 1907, agrarian forty-eight, non-agrarian forty; 1908, agrarian 110, non-agrarian fifty-one. The Peace Preservation Act lapsed on 31st December, 1906.