§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary why the local district inspector of police on 27th June last ordered a body of excursionists belonging to the Catholic Total Abstinence Society of Portadown to leave the train at the goods station at Portadown on their return from Armagh; whether due notice of this excursion was given to Dublin Castle and promises received from there of ample protection for the excursionists both in going and in coming, and that, although the excursionists had neither band nor banner, a crowd was permitted to collect and groan at them on their departure for Armagh, and the assistance of civilians was called in by the police to restrain this crowd, the number of police present being quite insufficient to maintain order; whether on the arrival of the excursionists from Armagh the district inspector had under his control nearly 200 police; why this force was not requisitioned to protect the excursionists and enable them to detrain in the usual way and at the usual place; whether there was any explanation of the fact that the district inspector with 200 armed men at his command felt it his duty to ask the excursionists to submit to a condition of this nature in order to save themselves from attack; and whether, in view of the indignation which has been aroused amongst the Catholics of Portadown by this incident, he will order a full and impartial inquiry into the whole of the circumstances connected with it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is, I understand, scarcely correct to say that the police ordered the excursionists to leave the train at the goods station; but the police persuaded them to detrain at that place, with the object of avoiding a possible conflict, as large hostile crowds had assembled near the passenger station awaiting the excursionists' return. This course of action was the result of an antecedent 1170 arrangement with the Rev. Father McDonald, the leader of the excursionists, and was carried out with his consent. The Rev. Canon Grimes, parish, priest, also attended at the goods platform, and very kindly assisted in getting, the excursionists to leave the train there,, as some of them were reluctant to do so. It is the fact that a promise of protection had been given, and the police had made all necessary arrangements for the preservation of the peace. The crowds-which had assembled when the excursionists were starting in the morning showed their hostility by groaning, but the police prevented any collision. The force under the control of the district inspector on the return of the excursion party was sufficient for its protection, but it was thought better to avoid any chance, of a collision between the two parties. There was no intention of slighting the excursionists, and I understand that the Catholic magistrates in the town have complimented the police on their arrangements. It is, I think, to be regretted that the opposite party at Portadown has thought fit to make the circumstance of the detraining at the goods station the occasion of a triumph, with the result of accentuating the ill-feeling which unhappily exists between the parties there. I am fully aware of the facts, and see no reason for any inquiry.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs it not the duty of the Executive and of the police to take all possible measures for the protection of excursionists; is there any precedent for asking excursionists to detrain at a goods station, and would that have been done in the case of an Orange excursion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI quite agree that it is the duty of the police to afford protection in these cases, and I am satisfied there was on this occasion a sufficient force of police to secure that protection and to prevent any serious interference with the excursionists. But I think the hon. Member will agree with me it is desirable, where possible, to avoid even a chance of a scrimmage, and if the parties concerned agreed, as in this case, to adopt the course suggested so as to avoid a political crowd, I do not think there was any harm in taking such a precautionary measure. We understand that in this case it was done with the consent of the leaders, and I am bound to say that, in my opinion, it was a very desirable arrangement in the interests of peace.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in consequence of this weakness on the part of the Executive and the action of the police a perfect reign of terror has been established in Portadown against the Catholics: and may I also ask him on whose information the right hon. Gentleman bases his statement that the Catholic clergyman consented to this arrangement, because I am informed that the Catholic clergyman never consented to any such arrangement; and I ask him again is it the duty of the police to protect the excursionists?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe first two questions are permissible. As to the third, it has already been answered.
Mr. DELVINMay I respectfully point out that I did put the question, and asked was it the duty of the police to protect these inoffensive citizens, and the right hon. Gentleman says it is, but they have not done so, and I want an explanation.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI really think that all the police authorities did their best to avoid, what I call, the beginning of trouble. We had there a sufficient force to protect life and limb and to secure these excursionists the free right to go about. We could not guarantee that no stones would be thrown, but we hoped that the police adopting these precautionary measures, with the consent of the parties concerned, the difficulties would have been avoided.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that so far from these precautionary measures being successful, the subsequent proceedings on the 12th of July proved that the weakness of the police had only encouraged the mob to fresh acts of violence against Catholic citizens?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is the beginning of a debate, and not a case of question and answer.
§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in a letter addressed to the Very Reverend Canon Grimes, parish priest of Portadown, the Under-Secretary at Dublin Castle promised, on behalf of the Lords Justices, that ample police arrangements would be made for the preservation of the public peace in Portadown; whether he is aware that on the 11th July a procession of Orangemen, wearing regalia, marched under police protection through an almost exclusively 1172 Catholic portion of Portadown to and from a church in the neighbourhood, although the ordinary and direct road to and from the church is much shorter; whether he is aware that on the 13th July Orange drumming parties were allowed to parade through the Catholic district in a provoking manner, cursing the Pope and playing party tunes, under the protection of the police, and that a series of scuffles took place, and several persons were injured, and afterwards a number of shots were fired by Orangemen going home through the district, and whether any prosecutions have taken place in connection with these outrages; whether he is aware that in William-street, where the Catholic Church is, and where half the population is Catholic, the Orangemen were permitted to erect an arch across the street a few yards from the church, and to keep it there until the?4th, to the annoyance of the people attending the church; whether drumming parties, contrary to all precedent, were permitted under the eyes of the police to march up and down the street, and to act in an offensive manner opposite the church; whether he is aware of the indignation which has been aroused by these occurrences, taken in conjunction with the treatment of the Catholic procession on 27th June, which was subjected to insult and compelled to detrain at the goods station, although they were assured of full protection by Dublin Castle; and whether he will order a searching inquiry into the conduct of the police in this matter, and give some guarantee that in future the Catholics of Portadown will enjoy the full measure of protection to which they are entitled by law?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe question covers a good deal of ground, and I have not sufficient information to give it the detailed reply which it deserves, and I hope the hon. Member will postpone it.
Captain CRAIGIs it not the fact that Portadown is one of the most peaceful portions of the country, and may I ask whether this class of question is not quite uncalled for, considering the peaceable and good terms upon which all classes in the town live?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am sorry to say that there are certain days of the year when Portadown does not deserve the character which the hon. and gallant Gentleman gives it.