§ 13. Mr. DONALDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether robberies and outrages have been committed in Dublin recently by uniformed unauthorised persons under the guise of official searches for aims; whether a raid was made at the Home and Colonial Stores, South Great George's Street, Dublin, by armed men holding up the manager and assistants with revolvers, whilst others ransacked the premises and carried away some £149; and whether any arrests have been made?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere is ample evidence that raids with criminal intent have been made by persons falsely representing themselves to be members of the forces of the Crown. An arrest was recently made in Dublin in connection with a case of this kind, but I cannot 1342 make any statement on the subject at present, as the matter is sub judice. I shall inquire as to the specific case referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLMay I ask if there was any damage to the building, as I happen to own it, and this is the first I have heard of damage?
§ 62. Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the summaries of official reports of outrages committed daily to the Press from the beginning of May were discontinued on the day when the sack of Balbriggan occurred; whether he will explain why in the month of August only four cases of private dwelling houses maliciously destroyed are specified in these summaries, no indication being given as to the perpetrators, and in the month of September only six such cases; and why the malicious destruction or partial wrecking of houses at Kildorrery, Templemore, Oranmore, Kill, Ballaghaderrin, Inniscarra, Tullow, and other places, all occurring in August and September, were not mentioned in these summaries?
§ 79. Mr. STEPHEN WALSHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what are the instructions of local detachments of Royal Irish Constabulary with regard to forwarding to Dublin Castle, by telegraph or otherwise, reports of outrages against persons and property occurring in their respective districts; what are the instructions to the officials of Dublin Castle with respect to the publication of reports of such outrages through the agency of the press; whether all outrages are reported and published or only selected outrages; and, in the latter event, on what principle is the selection made?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe discontinuance of the publication of the summary of outrages had no reference to Balbriggan. Responsible police officers report in the ordinary course of their duty upon all outrages which occur in their districts. These reports are sent to headquarters in Dublin in all important cases by telegram. The Press, apart from their own avenues of information, are given every facility for obtaining accurate information upon all subjects of public interest, and it was because of increased facilities in this connection that the summary was discontinued.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that the summary was discontinued on the date on which the reprisals began by the forces of the Crown?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt has no connection with what are called reprisals.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a marvellous thing that they ceased to be published on the day of the sacking of Balbriggan?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThat is only one of the many marvellous things that occur in Ireland.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman indicate to us why these outrages on the part of the forces of the Crown are not included in this list, as they were formerly?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODReports of outrages of all kinds are available to the Press who take advantage of the facilities given, and it is because, in the first place, of increased official facilities to the Press, and in the second place, I am glad to say, because of the increased interest taken by the Press itself in Irish affairs, that the daily publication of these outrages is no longer necessary.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the reason why they are not published because the Government themselves were committing outrages and burning towns, and will there be a bulletin issued headed "Government outrages; the burning and looting of towns; the destruction of villages, and the murder of innocent civilians."
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIf the hon. Member has any evidence of that list, I wish he would submit it to me.
§ Mr. DEVLINI can send him tons of it.