§ Mr. THOMAS F. SMYTHasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that John James MacNeill, of Drumcannon, Carrigallen, county Leitrim, who was formerly a member of the London Police Force, and is, since his retirement a few years ago, in receipt of a pension, going about the dis- 226 trict giving offence to his Roman Catholic neighbours and making use of uncalled-for remarks with a view to raising sectarian strife and embitter feelings between people who have always lived on friendly terms with each other; whether he is aware that a statement has been signed, in the presence of the police of the district, by a man named John Dobson, of Druminshin Glebe, Carrigallen, who up to recently was on friendly terms with MacNeill, that MacNeill asked him to write threatening and boycotting notices and to post the same in the district, with a view to blackening the district and in order that the authorities might send additional police into the locality to protect MacNeill and his brother, with whom he lives and who is in occupation of an evicted farm; and whether, as MacNeill has been fined several times at Carrigallen Petty Sessions for drunkenness, and that, when he would be drunk, he has to get police protection on account of his offensive remarks about Catholics and calling himself an Orangeman, steps will be taken to prevent MacNeill from acting in such a manner in the future?
§ Mr. CHERRYIt appears from the reports which I have received from the constabulary authorities that Dobson and McNeill are not on good terms. McNeill accused Dobson of poaching, and Dobson retaliated by making the allegations contained in the question, but did not sign a statement in the presence of the police. McNeill was twice fined for drunkenness in 1908, and is under police protection owing to his association with a brother who has taken an evicted farm. The police are not aware that he is in the habit of making offensive remarks about his neighbours.
§ Mr. SMYTHWill steps be taken in the future to prevent this man from repeating such conduct as is going on at present?
§ Mr. CHERRYIf he violates the law in any way and the offence is brought to the knowledge of the police, I can promise that measures will be taken.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHIs there any means of informing the inhabitants of these localities that Queen Elizabeth is dead and even that King William III. has passed away?
§ Mr. CHERRYI think they are mostly aware of the two facts.