§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what were the circumstances which required the drafting of a considerable body of additional police into the town of Swords during the past week; how many constables have been injured; and whether any proceedings have been instituted against those responsible for the disorder.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt was necessary to send ten extra police to Swords to preserve the peace owing to ill-feeling caused by a religious meeting held by strangers in the village. No constables were injured. Two persons are to be proceeded against for throwing stones.
§ MR. JAMES CAMPBELL (Dublin University)Is it not the fact the religious services in question were held with closed doors and not the slightest element of provocation; is it the case that on five different occasions the people attending them were molested and the doors of the building wrecked; and were the persons responsible for the outrage well known to the police?
§ MR. BIRRELLI cannot answer those Questions without further inquiry. I only know that irritation was caused by the holding of certain religious meetings.
§ MR. JAMES CAMPBELLBut surely the right hon. Gentleman knows if the meetings wore held with closed doors 1153 and without the slightest elements of provocation?
§ MR. BIRRELLI am not in a position to say definitely.
§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)Is it not a fact that these evangelical meetings have since had to be discontinued owing to the interference of inhabitants?
§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the most cordial and happy relations exist between the Catholics and Protestants of Swords and that the Catholic priest and Protestant rector worked together in order to prevent disturbances? Have not the troubles now ceased altogether?
§ [No Answer was returned.]