§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what economies have been effected since the War began at the headquarters of the Royal Irish Constabulary where the staff has always been over-manned and overpaid; what was the total cost of inspection by headquarters officers and by county inspectors, respectively, in 1915; seeing that all matters of complaint are specially investigated; whether he can state any use for the routine inspections other than the benefit of the inspectors; whether those inspections will be abolished or largely diminished; for what purpose the secretary to the Inspector-General is paid £150 a year in addition to 1928W the rank, pay, and allowances of a district inspector with none of the duties of that rank; and whether this post will be abolished?
§ Mr. BIRRELLOne vacancy, owing to death, in the clerical staff of the constabulary office has been left unfilled. Two clerks of the second division and an assistant clerk are absent on military service, but their places are partly filled, by the employment of a boy clerk and a sergeant. It is not considered that the staff is either larger than circumstances require or over paid. The cost of inspection by headquarters officers and county inspectors in 1915 was £143 and £2,546 respectively. The inspections are essential in order to maintain the force in a proper state of efficiency, and could not without detriment to the public interests be abolished or largely diminished. The payment mentioned in the fifth part of the question is made on account of the onerous and responsible duties of the officer concerned. The reply to the concluding part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary sent to investigate the charges of drunkenness and other acts of indiscipline against Sergeant Cleary, of Lack, county Fermanagh, last January, acted in accordance with the usual practice in publicly showing hostility towards Constable Nicholson, the accuser; whether the only witnesses the sergeant produced were two publicans, whose support he boasted he could command, and two gamekeepers, who helped him home when unfit to walk; why the local magistrates, who knew Sergeant Cleary's habits, were not allowed to adjudicate; whether a fresh inquiry will be held on impartial lines; and, having regard to Sergeant Cleary's relations with the local publicans, whether he will be transferred elsewhere?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn January last charges were preferred against Sergeant Cleary, of Lack Station, county Fermanagh, by Constable Nicholson, one of the party of police under his charge. The charges having been denied by the sergeant were investigated by a Constabulary Court of Inquiry consisting of two district inspectors, who conducted the inquiry in a fair and impartial manner. There is no ground for the statement that they showed hostility to Constable Nicholson. It is not the case that the only witnesses produced 1929W by the sergeant in his defence were two publicans and two gamekeepers. Eight witnesses appeared for him, none of them being publicans or gamekeepers, but two publicans and two gamekeepers were examined as witnesses for the prosecution. The offences with which the sergeant was charged were of a disciplinary nature, and not such as should be brought before the magistrates in Petty Sessions. I see no ground for the holding of any further inquiry or for ordering the sergeant's removal from the station.