§ 97. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary has recently made two separate demands on the Sligo County Council, the one for £170 15s. and the other for £116 6s. 3d., both amounts said to be due on account of extra police stationed in the county, for the half-years ending the 31st March and 30th September, 1918, respectively; that in the particulars of demand it is stated that, with the exception of one head constable and 22 constables stationed in the borough of Sligo from 27th February to 31st March, 1918, the others stationed in Tubbercurry and Ballymote were in those places for one day only; and whether, in view of the fact that his predecessor in office, the late Mr. Wyndham, in 1903 wiped out a similar tax of £3,000, he will consider the advisability of having these claims withdrawn?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe demands made on the County Council of Sligo for payment for extra forces of police are correctly stated, but the details of the forces charged for are not correct. In the half-year ended 31st March, 1918, the account included a charge for sixteen men at Ballymote from the 28th February to 31st March, and for sixteen men at Tubbercurry from 28th February to 16th March, in addition to charges for the period stated by the hon. Member. The account for the September, 1918, half-year include charges for sixteen men at Ballymote from the 1937 1st to the 18th April, and for fifteen men from the 18th to the 30th April, in addition to a charge for one man for eight days in April, at Tubbercurry. These men were brought into the county in connection with a serious outbreak of cattle-driving, and there is no reason why their services should not be paid for as provided for by the Statutes.
§ Mr. O'DOWDIs it not a fact that these extra police ostensibly brought into the county of Sligo to prevent cattle-driving and land commandeering did nothing of the kind?