§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked whether the police authorities have yet placed under arrest the persons suspected of the fatal assault on the late Mr. Thomas M'Clorey, of Rathfriland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo arrests have yet been made, but the police are pursuing their inquiries.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHMay I ask whether it is intended to place under arrest those persons who are suspected of having committed the murder, and, if not, why the usual practice is to be departed from?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy information is that the man was unable to identify his assailants, and that there were no witnesses of the assault—at all events, none have come forward. There are, of course, rumours and suspicions as to the identity of the assailants, but the evidence is not sufficient to justify arrest.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIf the victim had been a landlord everybody suspected would have been placed under arrest.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not a question which should be put.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not the practice in Ireland whenever a murder takes place to arrest all who are suspected of having committed the murder? Why has the usual practice been departed from in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere has been no departure from the usual practice in this case. I am sorry to say that a difficulty exists in making arrests in other parts of Ireland.