CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any arrests have been made in connection with the attack made on three labouring men in the employment of Miss Godley, Kilrar, near Farrigallen, by Carrick-on-Shannon, in August last, when they were fired at when engaged in, reaping oats, and one of their number, John Clay, was wounded by a bullet piercing his thigh; what sentences have been passed in the case; to what reasons the police authorities attribute the outrage, what steps they have taken to afford these men adequate protection in the future; and has John Clay quite recovered.
§ MR. BIRRELLOn 9th September last John Clay and two other labourers 952 were reaping for Miss Godley when a shot was fired in an adjoining wood and Clay was injured in the leg. No arrests have been made. Tho police are not aware of any possible motive for firing at Clay, as both he and his employer are popular in the locality. In the opinion of the police authorities there is no necessity for affording protection to the men. Clay is progressing favourably, but has not yet quite recovered.
§ EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)What steps have been taken to discover who carry firearms in this district?
§ MR. BIRRELLI do not know that any special steps have been taken.
§ MR. MOORE (Antrim, N.)Is it not the fact that since the Act has been repealed in twelve months outrages from firearms have increased by more than a third?
§ MR. BIRRELLIt is the fact.
§ MR. MOOREasked whether the increase was not directly due to the action of the Government in repealing the Arms Act.
§ MR. BIRRELLNo, Sir. During the most disturbed times in Ireland firearms were to be had and outrages were more frequent than now.