§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that all the excursion trains passing through Portadown on the morning of 26th June were attacked with stones by organised gangs; that similar attacks were made on the excursion trains returning from Dundalk on the same evening, including the down night mail from Dublin; that several passengers were injured in these trains, and that the police guarding the line were chased by a section of the Portadown mob while another section stoned the trains; whether any arrests have been made in connection with these attacks on the trains; and whether he can state the amount of compensation claimed by the Great Northern Railway Company during the past two 1916W years for damage done to their trains by gangs of rowdies in the Portadown district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe police at Portadown saw two boys throwing stones at an excursion train on the morning in question, but failed to catch them. They have not heard of any other cases of stone-throwing that morning, but some stones-were thrown at the trains on their return in the evening. Three panes of glass were broken, but no one was injured. No arrests have been made, but proceedings, will be taken against three stone-throwers who have been identified. There was no organised mob, nor was there any interference with the police guarding the line. I understand that the Great Northern Railway Company claimed £59 10s. for injury to trains during the riot at Portadown in August last, and were awarded £27 11s. This was the only compensation claimed by the company during the last two years.