Captain CRAIGasked whether the right hon. Gentleman has any statement to make as to the shooting outrage that took place about two miles from Athenry on Friday night, the 17th inst., when several shots were fired at a man named Thomas Collins, residing at Lisheenavalla, in Lough George district, near Galway, his horse being killed, but he himself narrowly escaping with his life; whether the police can assign any reason for the outrage; whether any arrests have been made; and what steps have been taken to prevent similar outrages in that neighbourhood?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed by the constabulary authorities that as Collins was driving home on the evening of the 10th instant four shots were fired at his horse, wounding it so that it died in a few minutes. It seems clear that the shots were aimed at the horse, and not at the man. The reason for the outrage is altogether a matter of opinion. No arrests have been made, but the police are doing all they can to prevent outrages in the district, and an extra force has been stationed there for some time.
Captain CRAIGHas the right hon. Gentleman any information to show how the police were able to state it was evident that shots were fired at the horse 359 and not at the man? Does he know of any cases in Ireland where the horses have been shot at?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere were circumstances brought before my notice—I have not got them before me now—which seem to make it perfectly plain that the shots were aimed at the horse and not at the man.' The man was sitting at the back of the cart, and the horse died a few minutes after the shots were fired. Had there been in this case any intention of wounding the man the opportunities for doing so were quite easy.
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, he was not.