§ 18. Mr. WATERSONasked the Chief Secretary whether he has anything further to report concerning the breaking into the Tralee Co-operative Stores by the armed forces of the Crown on 7th December last; whether adequate protection is being given to the staff at the stores; and whether he has informed the Tralee Co-operative Society that it may replace the name of the society in Gaelic upon the facia-board outside the premises as well as in English?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIf the hon. Member will refer to a reply which I gave him on the 23rd December last, with reference to this matter, he will find that his allegations of violence and intimidation against the Crown forces are not justified. The second and third parts of his question, therefore, do not arise.
§ Mr. WATERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the damage was done, and that the damage is there now to be seen by officers of the Crown if they care to view it with an impartial mind? Can the right hon. Gentleman say now that the armed forces of the Crown did not do it?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have given the answer supplied to me. If the hon. Member could give me any fact that has not been put before me, I shall see that it is inquired into.
§ Mr. WATERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole of the damaged property, as far as the main doors are concerned, is to be seen now by the right hon. Gentleman, if he is prepared to go to Ireland to see it?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt does not follow because the damage is there that it was done by the forces of the Crown.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman pay a personal visit to those districts where the damaged property is?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am actually planning a visit and I hope the hon. Gentleman will accompany me.
§ Mr. DEVLINI will go, but not with you.
§ Mr. LUNNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Labour Commission visited Tralee after this date, and that I personally saw the name mentioned in the question blotted out, and that it had been blotted out at the instigation of the forces of the Crown and not by the wish of the Co-operative Society of Tralee?
§ Mr. WATERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this name had to be completely eliminated, or, if that were not done, the manager was told to prepare for death within twenty-four hours?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am not aware of that. If it were true that some persons illegally erased the name in Gaelic or Irish it could not possibly have been done with the consent or approval of this Government which, with the consent of this House, gives thousands of pounds annually for the teaching of Irish.
§ Mr. WATERSONSeeing that this damage has been done and that the evidence is contradictory, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to grant an impartial inquiry?