16. Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been cabled to the evidence given by District-Inspector Davis and Acting-Sergeant Beegan at the hearing of a case at Ennis on the 28th November, when the district inspector stated that, in the district of Corofin alone since January, 1910, 104 serious outrages have occurred, of which forty-two were committed by the use of firearms; whether Acting-Sergeant Beegan swore that twelve outrages had been committed on one family alone; whether there are at present two persons under constant police protection and sixteen protected by patrols in the Corofin district; and whether, in view of these statements, he proposes to take steps to supplement the ordinary law for the protection of law-abiding people in this part of county Clare?
§ Mr. RUSSELLMy right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the evidence referred to in the question. The number of persons under police protction in Corofin district is as stated. All possible precautions are being taken by the police to prevent the commission of outrages, and for that purpose the stations in the district have been augmented where necessary. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.
Captain CRAIGWhat will be the protection of these people under Home Rule if you cannot protect them under the present Government?