9. Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether the glebe lands in certain 1820 parts of Ireland, the property of the Church of Ireland, are now the subject of attack by the United Irish League, and that a Mr. James Delany, J.P., of Durrow, Queen's County, president of the local branch of the United Irish League, ordered cattle to be removed from the rectory fields in order to force the land to be sold, although Canon Wills, Protestant rector of Durrow, had no cattle grazing on them, having let them on the eleven months' system, and, owing to terrorism, can now make no use of them; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent intimidation in such cases?
§ Mr. DELANYBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask whether he is aware that there are no grounds whatever for the allegation in this question, and that the reason why Mr. Delany is accused is because he is a Protestant Home Ruler and an Englishman by birth?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is my business to answer the question on the Paper. I am not aware of any foundation for the statement in the first part of the question. The glebe lands in question were held by the sisters of Mr. Delany on the eleven months' system, and when the period' expired last April they did not take the lands again. There was no terrorism or intimidation in connection with the case, and I am informed by the police that Canon Wills, who has never grazed the lands himself, but has always let them, could have done so again but that arrangements had been made to sell them.
§ Mr. DELANYIs it not a fact that the Misses Delany have offered to take the land again?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes, they are quite willing to take the land again.