§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many extra police are at Ballynacally, county Clare; and whether this district is at present in a perfectly peaceable state?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere are at present six extra police at Ballynacally in addition to the ordinary force of one sergeant and four constables. There was an organised cattle-drive on the demesne of Mr. W. H. Ball on 14th November, and the presence of extra police at Ballynacally is regarded by the constabulary authorities as absolutely essential to prevent interference with the stock on the demesne lands.
§ Mr. W. REDMONDMay I ask whether it is not a fact that since the date mentioned this locality has been perfectly peaceable, and whether in view of that it is necessary to maintain this large force of police? Let me also ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the charge to the grand jury by Mr. Justice Wright, in which he said that in the whole of county Clare there was not one single case of boycotting?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have read with pleasure the observations of Mr. Justice Wright in regard to the state of the county referred to, and I am also in accord with what fell from the hon. Member as to the general condition of the county. But we have to remember that there have been disturbances there, and that there is particular liability to a recurrence of unlawful practices on account of the demesne lands being let to graziers. The fact that extra police are kept there does not imply any general imputation on people of the country.