§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary whether he received a petition signed by residents in Newcastle West and district complaining of the conduct of the district inspector, Royal Irish Constabulary, and police there; and whether he would grant a sworn inquiry to fully investigate the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have received the petition referred to, but I see no grounds for a sworn inquiry into the matter.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYWhat objection can the right hon. Gentleman have to a sworn inquiry into the action of the police, in order that persons feeling aggrieved may be heard?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI can assure the hon. Member I have gone very carefully into this matter myself, and I am quite satisfied a sworn inquiry is out of the question.
Captain CRAIGasked whether any official inquiry, apart from the coroner's inquest, has been or will be made into the circumstances of the death of the late Constable Costelloe, of Clonbern, county Galway; whether he will take steps to provide for the constabulary authorities to determine whether a constable with twenty years' service is fit for promotion to the rank of sergeant without subjecting him to a further prolonged period of probation as an acting sergeant, and why this is the only force in the Kingdom where such a system exists; will he say why this constable was informed that he would have to revert to his former rank; what offence or offences had he committed; and when he applied for transfer elsewhere why was he refused?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Inspector-General has directed an official investigation into 1362 the circumstances of the death of the late Constable Costelloe, and in the meantime it does not appear to be desirable to discuss the matters referred to in the question.