Dr. O'NEILLasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, on the night of the 11th July, a crowd of Orangemen in Bessbrook, county Armagh, repeatedly discharged firearms outside the house of a Catholic, where a young girl named Brady was lying dangerously ill; whether he is aware the the girl died early on the morning of the 12th July, and that Sergeant Ballantyne knew of her serious con- 2121 dition, yet made no effort to put a stop to the discharge of firearms upon the streets and roads in the village; and whether he will take steps to have Sergeant Ballantyne removed from Bessbrook to another district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member appears to be misinformed. The Inspector-General informs me that on the night in question there was no crowd of Orangemen in the village of Bessbrook, and that, so far as the police are aware, no shots were fired either on the public road or in the vicinity of the house referred to. As I have already informed the hon. Member, no complaints of annoyance by the discharge of firearms or otherwise have been received from any person in the locality. It is not proposed to remove the sergeant to another station.
§ Mr. MOOREMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that 12,000 persons assembled at Bessbrook on 12th July, that there was no breach of the peace or complaint by any party, that the meeting unanimously denounced the Government, that this is part of an organised campaign of persecution by a person called Rodgers against a sergeant who was merely doing his duty?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am glad to say that there was no trouble on the occasion referred to. Of course, there may be other facts within the knowledge of the hon. Gentleman which are not within mine.