25. Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a number of Sinn Feiners recently entered the house of a Loyalist in Tipperary and, having locked up the owner of the premises and an aged relative in a room, proceeded one by one to outrage the wife of the owner; whether any arrests have yet been made in connection with the occurrence; and if he will take the necessary steps for this case to be included among the other unpunished crimes and outrages which the Free State Government have undertaken 1028 to look into if and when they are able, provided the necessary evidence is still available?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt has been reported to me that a number of men (not necessarily Sinn Feiners) entered the house referred to and committed a criminal outrage on the wife of the owner. The local officers of the Provisional Government at once inquired into the case. The leader of the gang who committed this shocking crime is believed to be a man who absconded from the neighbourhood immediately after the event, and every effort is being made by the Provisional Government and by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood to trace him and bring him and his associates to justice. So far as can be ascertained there is no political clement in this crime, which is one, I am glad to say, of rare occurrence in Ireland. In reply to the last part of the question, the hon. and gallant Member will understand from what I have already said that there is no need to bring the, matter further to the attention of the Provisional Government, who are no less, anxious than His Majesty's Government could be to deal energetically and ruthlessly with crime of this kind.