§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR (by Private Notice)asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland by whose authority a number of sol- 1456 diers in military motor lorries, armed with rifles, and with fixed bayonets, and accompanied by a machine-gun, and armoured car, took possession of the thoroughfares leading to the Mansion House, Dublin, on the afternoon of Friday, 9th May? Whether, in addition, a body of police entered the Mansion Houseon the allegation that they were searching for "certain persons" who it was suspected would be there and for whom warrants had been issued? Whether a volley was fired over the heads of a large crowd in the vicinity of the Mansion House?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIn the forenoon of Friday, the 9th instant, a man named Kelly, for whose arrest warrants exist, was challenged by a police constable while endeavouring to enter the Mansion House. Kelly presented a revolver at the constable, but was prevented from using it by a bodyguard of Sinn Fein Volunteers, who immediately surrounded him and rushed him into the Mansion House, thereby preventing his arrest. He was afterwards observed inside the Mansion House, and the subsequent action of the police and military was taken with the object of arresting him, and other fugitives from justice, who were believed to be in refuge in the building. No volley was fired. The action referred to was taken with the direct authority of the Irish Government.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKHow much longer does the Government intend to rely on methods of repression in the government of the people of Ireland?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere are no methods of repression, but any Government worthy of the name, when a man attempts to shoot in the street a humble officer of the law and commits a felony, would say that, so long as it is a felony by the law of the land, the law must be maintained.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIn consequence of the character of the answer which has been given by the right hon. Gentleman I ask leave to call attention to the policy of the Government in employing unnecessarily and provocatively military force in Ireland?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI would suggest to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division that to-morrow there will be a discussion which raises the whole question of the administration of the law in Ireland and 1457 the existing condition of affairs, and that that would form a suitable opportunity for discussing this very matter. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would see his way to raising the question then.
§ Mr. O'CONNORI understand that I shall be perfectly entitled to raise this question to-morrow evening?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIn view of that I will accept your suggestion and raise the question in Debate to-morrow evening.