HC Deb 10 May 1909 vol 4 cc1450-1
Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSY (for Mr. Joyce)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has any information in regard to an affray which took place at Cappamore, county Limerick, on 5th instant, between the police and the people; what was the cause of the collision; did the police charge the people with fixed bayonets, and, if so, who gave orders to do so; were any persons injured, and, if so, how many; is any person seriously hurt or stabbed, and, if so, can he say who was the person that inflicted the injury; and will he cause a full inquiry to be made into all the circumstances of the case?

Mr. CHERRY

This occurrence arose out of a dispute about turbary. The owner of a small estate and certain tenants who had agreed to purchase their holdings refused to allow the inhabitants of the neighbouring village of Cappamore to continue to cut turf on a bog on the estate which is becoming exhausted. This privilege had previously been granted to the villagers on payment, and they appear to have considered that custom gave them some right. On the 5th instant forty or fifty of them proceeded to cut turf on the bog. They were warned by the owner and one of the tenants, who were protected by a force of 25 police under a district inspector, to desist. They were supported by a crowd of about 100 persons, armed with turf spades, pitchforks, and similar weapons, who adopted a most threatening attitude. The district inspector formed the police into a square with fixed bayonets for the protection of the owner and the tenant, and subsequently as the crowd continued to commit wilful damage ordered the men to advance slowly. A villager named Mulcahy began to cut turf and throw it out on the police, and in attempting to stop him the district inspector was cut on the cheek, while Mulcahy in springing round to strike the district inspector with his turf spade received a stab from a bayonet. This wound is described as deep, but not dangerous. I am unable to say by whom the injuries were inflicted. The circumstances of the affray will be carefully inquired into, and an experienced officer of the headquarters staff of the Royal Irish Constabulary is already investigating the matter.