Captain COOPERasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been drawn to the address of Mr. Justice Gibson to the grand jury at the North Tipperary Assizes, in which it was stated that there was a certain amount of intimidation practised in the county, with a view to preventing the letting of grass lands and preventing sales; and whether any steps were being taken in this district to restore to the owners and occupiers of such land full liberty of action without hindrance to their daily occupations?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAccording to the newspaper report, which I have seen, the learned judge would appear to have qualified the statement referred to by the hon. Member by adding that he did 504 not say that intimidation was prevalent. I am informed by the constabulary authorities that it has greatly decreased throughout the county of Tipperary during the past year. Wherever there has been intimidation the police are doing all they can to prevent its recurrence and to detect the offenders.