§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary if he can say why Mr. Timothy Mulcahy, of Bishop Street, Newcastle West, was detained in the police barrack in Newcastle West on the night of 21st April, and falsely charged with being drunk when he went there to have a friend of his who was in the barrack let out to go home with him; why Constables Horan and Rogers made a raid on his licensed premises on the 22nd instant, looking for a farmer named James Nix, and stated that his (James Nix's) sister sent them there, which she denied, and demanded an explanation in the police barrack from Constable Horan; why the district inspector, in his cross-examination of Timothy Mulcahy in the licensing case against him on 31st March, directed it towards getting information about a memorial which has been got up by residents in the district complaining of the conduct of the police in Newcastle West, and the intimidation practised by them against individuals in the locality; and whether he will direct a sworn inquiry into the conduct of the police and allow private individuals to be legally represented at it, so that the facts may be made known to him?
§ Mr. BIRRELLTimothy Mulcahy was arrested on the night of 21st April on a charge of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and endeavouring to force his way into the police barrack after three others who had been arrested on a similar charge. The case was heard at Newcastle West Petty Sessions and dismissed by a majority of the magistrates, the Resident Magistrate dissenting. The constables named visited Mulcahy's licensed premises on 22nd April, as it was reported to the police that Nix was drunk on the premises. The constables made no statement as to having been sent there by Nix's sister. The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed as regards the action or the district inspector in the case against 169W Mulcahy on 31st March. The district inspector informs me that he did not cross-examine Mulcahy as stated in the question, and that he is not aware that any of the residents, with a few unimportant exceptions, have made any complaints as to the action of the police. The complaints which have reached me have been fully inquired into by the county inspector, and I see no reason for any further inquiry.