§ 8. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that several hundred Irish republicans, with three bands, assembled at Bunninadden, county Sligo, on the 8th instant, and, after a forced march of twenty miles, were able to seize eight farms in the name of the Irish republic, and hand them over be their friends to be tilled on conacre; whether any representatives of the Irish Government were present.; and, if so, did they venture to interfere with the action of the republicans?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that over 200 men, mostly members of Sinn Fein clubs, assembled with three bands near Bunninadden, county Sligo, on 8th February, and afterwards visited eight farms, marching about twenty miles. The owners of three farms consented, as I am told, to give land for conacre at an agreed price. Portions of the other five farms were stated by the leader of the party to be taken possession of in the name of the Irish republic and to be allotted for conacre Four police constables were 893 present, and warned the leaders of the illegality of their actions, and observed and reported the names of those whom they knew.
All available means will be used to protect occupiers of land in the possession of their property, and to prevent the breaking up of land under whatever pretext by persons not lawfully entitled to possession. When consent is given interference by the police would be out of the question. Where consent is not given the breaking up of land is a malicious injury for which compensation can be levied upon the district, and any crop grown on the land would become the property of the lawful owner.
§ 20. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that on Saturday last a band of men, said to number about 1,000, marched out from Boyle, county Roscommon, and in the name of the Irish republic took possession of a farm, which they divided up and distributed among their adherents at a nominal rent, and then continued their march and took over and distributed two other farms in a similar manner; if so, whether any police were present; and what action do; they take?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that about 1,500 men from counties Roscommon and Sligo, with four bands, a dozen horsemen, and twenty ploughs, arrived in Boyle early in the morning of the 16th instant and took possession of three farms, stating that they did so in the name of the Irish republic. The farms were marked out into lots, and nominally let at £l per acre for tillage, without the consent of the owners. The small force of police who were present were unable to prevent these proceedings. They warned the ringleaders of the illegality of their action, and reported the names of the ringleaders. The question of prosecution is under consideration.
I would like to emphasise, with regard to this question, the observation I made in answer to a previous question by the hon. Member on the same subject, to the effect that no sort of right is acquired by any person who goes upon land in this way, and that it would be the duty of the public authorities to see that he derives no profit: from such a transaction and that duty will be enforced by all possible means and at all possible cost.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has considered that these men have done in a somewhat irregular way what the Government ought to have done in a more regular way?
§ Mr. DUKENo, Sir; these men have intentionally committed a grave offence against public order and common honesty, and I very much regret that a Member of Parliament in Parliament should appear to condone it, the more so because I know that all the responsible persons in Ireland, including the leaders of religious life in Ireland, condemn these proceedings as strongly as they can be condemned. It is only because a force of a few police is not adequate to repress by force such a proceeding without notice that steps have not been taken to make effectual the prevention of conduct of this kind.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I ask if the Government have not committed the gravest offence against national' safety in being blinded by pettifogging politics which prevent their seeing the great lines of reality?