Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in February, 1906, a farmer named T. Pratt, who occupies a farm near Kille-naule, county Tipperary, was fired at; that on the night of the 11th May, 1911, 1519 two bombs were exploded outside of his house; that on the 1st October, 1911, shots were fired at him; that on the night of 11th February, 1912, when he was in bed in a room opening off the kitchen, a police patrol having just gone away, he heard a noise of something thrown on the kitchen floor, he got out of bed and was going to the door when his wife called him back, when in the kitchen a bomb exploded immediately followed by a second explosion; can he state the amount of the damage done; the reasons assigned for this series of outrages; whether any arrests have been made, and, if so, the nature of the sentences passed; and what precautions have been taken by the police to protect the man's life and property in future?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The police authorities inform me that Thomas Pratt alleged that on the night of the 17th February, 1906, shots were fired at him. On the night of the 6th March, 1911, two bombs were placed outside his house, one of which exploded. Pratt alleged that shots were fired into his yard on the 1st October last, but a police patrol that was in the neighbourhood at the time did not hear the shots. On the 11th instant two bombs were put in through the window of Pratt's house and exploded, doing considerable damage, for which he is claiming £150 compensation. The reasons for these outrages is a matter of opinion. One arrest was made in connection with the alleged case of shooting in February, 1906, but the man was acquitted. Constant protection by police patrols is at present afforded to this man.
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEHave the police formed any opinion as to the reason of these outrages?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSome have one opinion and some another.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman state one of those opinions?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo; I would sooner not.
§ Mr. C. CRAIGMay I ask why this man, who has to suffer all these outrages, is not put under constant police protection?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe police are quite alive to the gravity of this case and to the facts. If the police think he requires to 1520 be constantly protected he will certainly have that. My information is that he is satisfied and the police are satisfied that he receives all protection. Whatever protection is necessary he will receive it.
§ Mr. MACKINDERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether on 20th January, 1912, a farmer named Pat Kavanagh was fired at near Kinvara when returning from Ennis market; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with this outrage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe police authorities inform me that two gunshots were fired at Patrick Kavanagh on the occasion referred to. No arrests have been made.
§ Mr. MACKINDERasked whether a shooting outrage was perpetrated at Gurtanumera, near Portumna, on 25th January, 1912, when a farmer's house was fired at and the windows riddled with shot; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with this attack?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe police authorities inform me that three shots were fired into the house of a farmer named Cornelius Heagney on the 24th January. No arrests have been made.
§ Mr. MACKINDERasked whether, on 29th January, 1912, an attack was made on the house of a man named Denis O'Connor, acting as caretaker at a farm known as Mayfield, about a mile from the city of Cork; whether shots were fired through the windows of the house; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with this outrage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe police authorities inform me that on 29th January a shot was fired into the house on the evicted farm of which O'Connor was caretaker. Two arrests were made.
§ Mr. SANDYSasked whether on the 2nd January, 1912, an attack was made on the house of Michael Ryan, in the neighbourhood of Glanquin, county Clare; and that fifteen to twenty shots were fired into the room in which the old man, his wife, who was eighty years of age, and his children were sleeping, with the result that both the old people were wounded; and what steps he is taking to prevent such outrages?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe facts are practically as stated. Special arrangements have been made by the police to prevent similar occurrences. One man was arrested, and is awaiting trial at assizes.
§ Mr. SANDYSasked whether on 8th January, 1912, a young man named Birmingham, the son of a process server residing at Killeenvarra, near Kilcogan, county Galway, was fired at through the window of his father's house and seriously wounded; what is the condition of the injured man; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with this outrage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe facts are as stated. The injured man has completely recovered. No arrests have been made.
§ Mr. SANDYSasked whether, on 11th January, 1912, the house of a farmer named Martin Creavin, at Cahernahoon, Torloughmore, was visited by a party of moonlighters, who fired several shots into the dwelling-house; and whether any, arrests have been made in connection with this outrage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed that on 11th January six revolver shots and two gun shots were fired at the house of a farmer named Martin Creavin, one bullet going through the door. Two arrests were made, but informations were refused, and the men were discharged.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINArising out of the series of answers which the right hon. Gentleman has given, will he consider the advisability of placing some restriction on the possession and use of arms in Ireland?
§ Mr. MOOREMay I ask who constituted the bench of magistrates in the case in which informations were refused—was it a Nationalist majority?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI must have notice of that question. I cannot possibly carry in my head the constitution of a particular bench of magistrates. With regard to the question of the right hon. Gentleman, I only wish I were in a position to restrain the free use and ownership of arms in Ireland, as well as in other parts of the country.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINWhy then did the Government drop the Arms Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThat did not happen during my administration. There was a great deal of varied differences of opinion, including Lord MacDonnell and others, who: were actively engaged in this matter, as to the utility of maintaining the provisions of that Statute. Personally, I regret it was not retained.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact that all those firearms come from Birmingham?
§ Captain CRAIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government received warning from these Benches that if they dropped the Peace Preservation Act such cases as are now reported would occur?