§ 13. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the reasons for the raids by military forces in the night and early morning of 30–31st January, 1920, in which over a thousand private houses were entered and thirty persons arrested without warrant or charge, including the honourable Members for the St. James' Division of Dublin, North East Cork, and West Wicklow; and when it is proposed to bring the accused to trial?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe raids were carried out by police and troops in order to capture certain leaders and important persons in the Irish Volunteers (or Irish Republican Army) the organisation which has been responsible for recent attacks on police barracks, and other outrages, and for the state of lawlessness and terror now obtaining in Ireland. The individuals selected are believed to be those responsible for plotting, organising and carrying out outrages, and have been deported under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. The number of houses raided is grossly exaggerated.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether it is the fact that there is no proof against these hon. Members, but that they are only suspected of connivance?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot add anything to the answer which I have given.