HC Deb 16 July 1912 vol 41 cc226-7
Mr. RONALD M'NEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether he has received any information of an outrage on women and children committed by Nationalists at Kilrea, county Derry, on 13th July; whether the affair commenced by an attack on a child of 14 years of age, who was seriously hurt; whether the perpetrators then attacked a party of excursionists, chiefly young women, whom they pelted with stones, bottles, and other missiles; whether the miscreants were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; whether any arrests have been made; and what steps he proposes to take to protect Protestant women and children in Ulster against similar outrages by Nationalist ruffians in future?

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)

I have received the following police report:— The C.I., Londonderry, reports this morning. Serious party disturbance took place at Kilrea on night of 13th inst., on return of Excursionists from Portrush. Two persons named Mark Reilly and Patrick Henry, wounded by revolver bullets. Several windows broken, disturbance lasted from 10.30 p.m. to 11.0 p.m. Stones, bottles and other missiles being thrown and revolver shots tired. The town is now quiet. Reports follow bzy post.

Mr. RONALD M'NEILL

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer the specific question, whether the disturbance began with an attack on a child of fourteen and afterwards developed into an attack on young women and children?

Mr. RUSSELL

No further information has reached the Irish Office beyond that which I have given. Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat his question.