§ 24. Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he has received reports as to the rioting which took place at Limerick at the conclusion of the Unionist meeting held there on Thursday, 10th October, and as to the renewal of the rioting on the evening of Friday, 11th October; whether he will state the nature of the assaults on those who attended the meeting, and the extent to which damage was done to property by the rioters; whether any arrests have been made or prosecutions instituted; whether any of the rioters have been identified by the police as being members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; and what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the disorders?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe police inform me that some of the persons who attended the meeting were assaulted by being struck with stones, but as far as I am aware no one was seriously injured. The windows of eighty-five shops and some other buildings were smashed. Five arrests have been made and prosecutions will be instituted in several other cases. So far as is known to the police none of the rioters -were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. A large extra force of police-has been drafted into the city to prevent a recurrence of any disorder. I understand that the city is now quiet.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that three Protestant churches had all their windows smashed, and that four Protestant clergymen were violently assaulted in the streets?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have stated the windows of eighty-five shops and other buildings were smashed.
§ Mr. JOYCEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, if the municipal authorities of the city of Limerick ask for a public sworn inquiry into the circumstances of this case, will he grant it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will consider the application when made, and what ground there is for a sworn inquiry.
§ Mr. JOYCEMay I further ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not publicly charged that the County Inspector of Police is the man who caused all the trouble, and whether on Saturday night, when the police were withdrawn to their barracks, the Catholic clergymen of the city 1403 of Limerick did not at once get the people to disperse peacefully to their homes, and the peace has been preserved since?
§ Mr. C. CRAIGMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if a Member of this House is justified in making such serious charges against a public official as the hon. Member has made against the County Inspector of Limerick?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI would desire to see the question in writing.
§ Mr. MOOREMay I ask if the Wesleyan church was not partially wrecked and if the house of Archdeacon Hackett, whose wife was lying ill, was not attacked and partially wrecked?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member has all these facts, let him put them down.
§ Mr. LUNDONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the Friday night previous to this occurrence a meeting of the Hibernians of Limerick was held, and a resolution was passed—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is impossible for the Chief Secretary to know what meetings were held. The hon. Member must put down his question if he wants an answer.