§ 15. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers from Collinstown Barracks assisted at the sack of Balbriggan; whether disciplinary action has been taken; if so, what action has been taken; and what disciplinary action has been taken with reference to the soldiers who took Government motor lorries without permission for the sacking of Mallow?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second and third parts do not therefore arise. As regards the last part, as a result of a court-martial, six non-commissioned officers were reduced in rank for periods varying from one year to five months for using a Crossley tender without leave, and one non-commissioned officer (the driver of the tender) was reduced to the ranks and awarded 168 hours' detention for taking out the tender. I would add, however, that none of these non-commissioned officers were proved to have been implicated in the damage done to the town. The expression "sack of Balbriggan" is a gross and malignant exaggeration.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman say if the House is to see any evidence of these inquiries?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONWill the hon. Member kindly put down a question?
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman go over to Balbriggan, and see whether the statement in the question is correct?
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORYesterday I asked the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary a question referring to Granard 992 and Tralee. It is not, perhaps, necessary to read out the question again, but may I ask if the Chief Secretary has any information to-day?
May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has seen this photograph, which I hold in my hand, in the "Manchester Guardian," headed "The Sack of Granard"? If not, I am quite willing to place this copy of the picture at the disposal of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am a diligent student of the "Manchester Guardian."
§ Mr. DEVLINIt does not do you much good.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have seen the photograph. I have also received the following information in addition to that which I gave the House yesterday.
In the case of Granard, several houses, including an hotel, some public-houses, and private houses, were observed to be on fire at 1.15 a.m. on the 4th instant, and considerable damage was done before the flames were extinguished. In all, nineteen properties were damaged or destroyed. The police have been unsuccessful in their endeavours to find out who were responsible for the burning. I may mention that a mixed patrol of police and military which had arrived in the town before midnight because of an apprehended attack on the police barracks had left the town about an hour after their arrival, and when they left all was quiet. I am informed that some of the property belonged to persons believed to be Sinn Feiners and some to persons who were not believed to have any sympathy with the Sinn Fein movement.
In the case of Tralee, a telegraphic report has been received this morning stating that the police deny all knowledge of the alleged threat against the correspondent of the Central News, and no complaint in regard to this threat has yet been received by the local police authorities. As regards the alleged closing of business houses by the police, I am informed that the police are not unduly interfering with the conduct of business in Tralee. Subsequent to, and in consequence of, the recent murders of the police in this district and the kidnapping of two constables on the 31st ultimo, many young men engaged in the shops and 993 factories have left the town, and are believed to be in the country and taking part in attacks on the forces of the Crown. These young men are members of the Irish Republican Army. It is in a great measure owing to this state of affairs that business has been suspended, but my latest information is to the effect that work in the factories and business in the shops is being carried on to a considerable extent.
In the case of Londonderry an attempt was made to assassinate two policemen on Saturday night last by four men who fired revolvers at them, wounding both, but not dangerously. A few hours later a number of disguised men wrecked plate-glass windows in seven shops and burned a newspaper shop and a garage. The fire brigade and the military and police turned out, and I regret to say that in some firing that took place three other policemen were wounded, one of them fatally.
In the case of Nenagh—and here I repeat myself—where a reprisal is alleged to have taken place on the night of the fourth, I am informed by the military authorities that some of the troops, incensed at the sight of the dead body of their officer, Lieut. Hambleton, who was cruelly murdered while cycling in the neighbourhood, broke out of barracks and set fire to two houses. Fresh troops arrived on the scene and brought the men back to barracks, and the fires were put out by the combined efforts of the police and military. There is no information about a girl being accidentally shot near Ardfert, county Kerry, on Friday last.
§ Mr. O'CONNORThere is no doubt about the accuracy of the statement of the right hon. Gentleman as to a number of houses having been burnt or wrecked in Granard. Can the right hon. Gentleman suggest by whom this was done? Apparently the suggestion in the answer to the question is that it could not have been done by any of the forces of the Crown. Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that it was done by the people themselves in the town? [Hon. MEMBERS: "Oh, oh!"]
§ Mr. DEVLINIf the right hon. Gentleman cannot suggest anything, perhaps he will answer this question. I want to ask arising out of that answer, is it a fact that the reign of terror still continues in 994 Tralee, and that, instead of cessation, it increases in vigour; whether the privations, especially in the case of the poorer classes, are not simply appalling, and that many of the community are now starving; whether at the point of the revolver people are prevented from purchasing the necessities of life—[An HON. MEMBER: "By Sinn Feiners?"]—and that when a shopkeeper opens his place is entered by forces of the Crown, and the proprietor is compelled to close under threats; and whether the policy of fright-fulness is not carried further so that the creamery proprietors are being prevented from taking milk from the farmers with the result that the latter have no means of disposing of it; if so, what action he is taking to bring to an end this police despotism which is causing such hardship and suffering to the women and children in Tralee, where no murder has been committed by anybody?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have received no notice of this very long question, but I have already answered most of the points put by the hon. Gentleman in my reply to the hon. Gentleman beside him (Mr. T. P. O'Connor). I can say further, I do not accept the suggested facts that things are so appallingly bad in Tralee as is suggested in the question?
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that as late as last Friday evening I sent him a telegram reciting most of these facts? Yet on Tuesday he is not in a position to give definite information to the House on the facts I have stated?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have done the best I can.
§ Mr. O'CONNORMay I press for an answer from the right hon. Gentleman to the question I have just put? It is admitted that a great number of houses have been wrecked or burnt in Granard, and this is confirmed by the illustration in the newspaper, reminding an hon. and gallant Gentleman near to me of Ypres. I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman what theory he has to account for this partial destruction? Was it done by the soldiers, by the policemen, by the victims themselves, or by the people? [An HON. MEMBERS: "Or by Sinn Feiners!"] An hon. Member near to me suggests that it was done by Sinn Feiners. Is that the theory of the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt is impossible for me to theorise. I have given the hon. Gentleman all the information at my disposal, as I always do give the information at my disposal.
§ Mr. DEVLINWhen will there be some effort made to get at the truth in regard to these most horrible proceedings? Why do not the Government go over and burn the houses themselves, and not get their minions to do it. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, Order!"]