HC Deb 14 June 1921 vol 143 cc244-5
Mr. DEVLIN

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "The want of proper control and discipline of the Crown forces in Belfast, whereby peaceful citizens are taken from their homes, and, without charge or trial, are murdered during curfew hours."

Colonel Sir JAMES GREIG

On a point of Order. As the Northern Parliament of Ireland has been instituted, is it not out of Order for any questions as to the preservation of law and order in that part of Ireland to be addressed to Ministers here?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think that the Executive here are still responsible for the Crown forces in Ireland. The hon. Member for the Falls Division of Belfast asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the want of proper control and discipline of the Crown forces in Belfast,"— I do not think that can be said to be definite— whereby peaceful citizens are taken from their homes, and, without charge or trial, are murdered during curfew hours. I am afraid that the Motion in the form in which it is drawn does not come within the Rules of the House, Standing Order No. 10.

Mr. DEVLIN

Do I understand that you rule that it is not a definite matter of urgent public importance that the Crown forces can go out at one o'clock in the morning in three different relays, enter the houses of peaceful citizens, drag them out of their homes, and murder them? Then we are told in the House of Commons there is no redress. I shall claim the right as long as I am here to endeavour to defend people from being assassinated at midnight in their homes. If that be not a matter of urgent public importance, is there a single item of British justice left in these islands? What is urgent and what is not?

Mr. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member had waited, I was endeavouring to help him to make the Motion definite. I understand that he wishes to move the Adjournment in relation to an incident occurring on Sunday last. Was it Sunday?

Mr. DEVLIN

The Sabbath morning, especially selected, at one o'clock.

Mr. SPEAKER

That enables it to be brought as a particular instance. It is only a thing of that kind which can be taken under the Rules of the House, Standing Order No. 10. I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to put in the words "on Sunday morning last." The hon. Member for the Falls Division of Belfast asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the want of proper control and discipline of the Crown forces in Belfast on Sunday morning last, whereby peaceful citizens were taken from their homes, and, without charge or trial, were murdered during curfew hours."

The pleasure of the House not having been signified, Mr. SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the Motion to rise in their places, and not fewer than 40 Members having accordingly risen,

The Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 10, until a Quarter past Eight this evening.