HC Deb 18 June 1917 vol 94 cc1429-30
70 and 73. Major NEWMAN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether he will make inquiries into the antecedents of Henry J. M'Cullough, a hairdresser by profession, lately come to, and now resident in, Mountrath, and local secretary to the Irish Republican party; and (2) whether a meeting to organise Ireland's claim for sovereign independence was publicly advertised by posters in the town of Mountrath on Sunday, 10th instant; was this meeting allowed to be held, and, if so, has the Government any record of the proceedings; and was any protest received by him against allowing it to take place?

Mr. DUKE

I am not aware of any circumstances requiring investigation as regards the antecedents of the man referred to. His recent movements are well known. He called a meeting at Mountrath to form a Sinn Fein club, and a protest against the allowance of such a meeting was received, but no Governmental action was thought to be necessary, and the attempt to form a club met with no success. I suspect that M'Cullough's promotion to be the subject of a question in Parliament will be an encouragement to him after his local failures.

Major NEWMAN

Is it not a fact that the High Sheriff of Queen's County objected to this meeting being held?

Mr. DUKE

I do not know that that is relevant to the question. Any individual in the neighbourhood who thought it his duty to call the attention of the Administration to the matter could desire his name to be posted as having done so.

Mr. REDDY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this hairdresser is a supporter of the hon. Member who put this question and comes from Enfield?