Captain COOPERasked whether any persons were identified by the police as having participated in the cattle-drives that took place on the Pollock estate, county Galway, in April last; whether a force of thirteen police was present on the occasion of the second of these drives; and whether any proceedings had been instituted against the offenders; and, if so, what had been the result?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYSome persons were identified on the occasion referred to. Twenty-one police were present on the occasion. No proceedings have been instituted. There has been no further outbreak and it appears that everything in connection with the sale of the estate has been satisfactorily settled.
Captain COOPERMay I ask why proceedings were not taken against persons who were identified as having taken part in these lawless proceedings?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe circumstances of the case, as the hon. Member knows, were very exceptional. Peace has been restored in the district, and the general view was that it would be undesirable to take proceedings.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEIs there peace in Belfast?
Captain COOPERasked the Chief Secretary if he would state by whose authority the district inspector of constabulary interviewed Patrick Kilby, the leader of the cattle-drivers on the Pollock estate, county Galway; whether that officer obtained from Kilby a written undertaken that there would be no repetition of the crime of cattle-driving provided the negotiations for the sale of the property were completed by a specified date; and, if so, whether he would communicate to the House the text of this undertaking?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh on 23rd June last.