HC Deb 06 May 1920 vol 128 cc2206-7
10. Mr. TURTON

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the number of police barracks destroyed during April; the approximate value thereof; and the total amount of claims already lodged, distinguishing between those barracks which are the property of the Government and those belonging to private persons?

Mr. HENRY

277 Royal Irish Constabulary barracks and huts were maliciously destroyed or seriously damaged. Of this number 241 were privately owned, and 36 were Government property. Legal proceedings have been taken in respect of claims amounting to £353,945 for barracks privately owned, and £73,325 for barracks which are the property of the Government.

Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESS

Did the Government take any reasonable steps for the defence of this property?

Mr. HENRY

The barracks referred to in the question were barracks that had been vacated by the police.

Mr. SHORT

May I ask what the right hon. Gentleman means by "privately owned"?

Mr. HENRY

Cases where a private individual owned the barracks and let it to the constabulary either for a year or on lease.

Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESS

Is it considered a reasonable policy to vacate barracks, and is it proposed to continue it?

Mr. HENRY

In particular instances these barracks were held by small numbers of men, and the Government were advised by those responsible that, in the interests of the men holding them, it would be better to vacate them.

Colonel ASHLEY

Would it not have been better to reinforce those barracks by soldiers rather than vacate them?

Mr. HENRY

In many of those barracks the accommodation was so small that it would have been impossible to have got room for soldiers adequate to defend them.

Sir H. CRAIK

Could you not have added to the buildings, if that had been necessary, in order to preserve peace and administration of the law?

Mr. HENRY

It would have been quite impossible to have enlarged the buildings in a sufficiently short time by building any addition.

Lord R. CECIL

Does that mean that the Government were not able to protect the lives of the police in 230 barracks throughout Ireland?

Mr. HENRY

No, it simply meant that in an utterly remote district, very often in the mountains, three police might easily be overwhelmed by bodies directed against them.

Mr. MOLES

May I ask whether the military authorities considered the advisability of co-operating with the police to the extent of bringing military huts where other buildings were not available?

Mr. HENRY

I am sure that question was fully considered, because I am aware that there were conferences on the subject.