HC Deb 02 November 1930 vol 134 cc180-2
Mr. DEVLIN

(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is a fact that following the wounding of a policeman at Dungannon Town a number of armed and disguised men invaded the town and discharged grenades, rifles and revolvers; whether any business premises were wrecked; whether the Ulster Volunteers were communicated with and turned out and, with the assistance of a large crowd who congregated quickly, began to make reprisals, bombs being thrown into many large trading establishments, while other sections of the crowd, with petrol supplies, carried on the work of destruction; and what steps have been taken to protect inoffensive citizens from these disgraceful attacks?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I only received this question at noon to-day. I have communicated with Dungannon, and asked for an immediate report on the allegations made by the hon. Member, but must point out with all respect that it is quite impossible to give a specific answer to a long series of charges of this kind within a few hours after they are made. I may state generally that it is true that a policeman was wounded in Dungannon on Sunday night. It is the first unhappy event of that kind that has occurred in Dungannon, and I am told, not officially, but from other sources, that the whole countryside is up searching for the assassin or attempted assassin.

Mr. DEVLIN

Is it not the duty of the right hon. Gentleman as Minister responsible for order in Ireland, to have information regarding incidents of this character that have occurred almost two days ago? May I ask whether he reads the. "Morning Post," as he ought as a Member of the Government, and if so, whether he has not read of these things in that newspaper, and whether he proposes to prosecute the "Morning Post"?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I endeavour to read as many papers as I can in order to inform myself. Let me point out to the hon. Member, if I may, in answer to his supplementary question, that when an unhappy event of this kind occurs, every policeman and every police officer and every soldier and every military officer is at once on day and night duty in trying to ferret out those who are responsible for the assassination or attempted assassination, and it is very difficult to get immediately a detailed report of the incident. It is very easy for a pressman on the spot to telegraph any information he may have, or the events which he may see, direct to his newspaper. I can only answer through the proper channels—the men who are responsible.

Mr. DEVLIN

May I ask whether the same passionate activities which the right hon. Gentleman describes as being displayed by the military and police in trying to find out who wounded this policeman are also being manifested in trying to bring to justice the malefactors who burn the homes of decent and inoffensive citizens?

Mr. COOTE

May I ask the Chief Secretary if it is not a fact that the parish priest of Dungannon himself has stated that the attack upon the policeman was the attack of a man trying to murder the policeman, and that well-disposed people af all shades of opinion in the district are horrified at the attempted outrage in Dungannon?

Mr. O'CONNOR

In view of the testimony from the hon. Member who has just addressed a question to the House, which is in accordance with the testimony of the right hon. Gentleman himself, that this attack on the policeman was condemned by the parish priest and by the general community, is not that an additional reason for protecting the lives and property of these innocent people who condemned the offence.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

T can assure the hon. Member that every effort is made to protect the lives and property of the innocent and inoffensive people, but who are innocent and inoffensive——

Mr. DEVLIN

Disgraceful!

Sir H. GREENWOOD

——is a matter of which I have, no official knowledge.

Mr. DEVLIN

Disgraceful!