HC Deb 24 May 1916 vol 82 c2116W
Mr. W. O'BRIEN

asked on what charge Mr. Louis Smyth, of Magherafelt, one of the few surviving founders of the Land League in 1879, was arrested and deported to England; was it the fact that Mr. Smyth, who is long past the age for bearing arms, had no connection with the Irish Volunteers and that no disturbance of the peace of any kind occurred in the county in which he lived; and whether inquiry would be made into the allegation generally credited in Magherafelt that his arrest was due to certain local machinations owing to his independence in matters of constitutional Irish politics?

Mr. TENNANT

I am informed that the person referred to, though incapable of bearing arms, was President of the Irish Volunteers at Magherafelt. I am aware that there was no disturbance in that locality.