HC Deb 20 July 1914 vol 65 c59W
Mr. O'SULLIVAN

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that on Sunday, 31st May, three Royal Irish Constabulary constables attending divine service at the Roman Catholic Church, Cordal, Castle-island, county Kerry, left the church in the middle of the service, and that on the same date a cinematograph, worked by two strangers to the district, was placed in the centre of the public thoroughfare outside the church as the people were leaving the church, and at the same moment Mr. Gun Mahony, of Kilmurry House, accompanied by five Royal Irish Constabulary men, armed, went through the people; and will he say why the police were thus employed?

Mr. BIRRELL

The police who are protecting Mr. Mahony escorted him to the Protestant church and then attended Divine service themselves at the Roman Catholic church at the same place. The service in the former was over shortly before that in the latter, so that Mr. Mahony's escort had to leave before the service was quite finished. Some photographers were taking photographs of the country people leaving both churches, and it appears they photographed Mr. Mahony and his escort, but the police had nothing to do with the matter, and were merely discharging the duty assigned to them. They did not facilitate in any way the operations of the photographers.