HC Deb 02 March 1921 vol 138 cc1810-1W
Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet completed the inquiries into the damaging to the extent of £2,000 of the co-operative creamery, and the assault on the manager, on the 18th October last at Abberdorney; if he is aware that the manager, Mr. T. O'Donovan, has made a sworn affidavit that the looting and firing of this creamery and the unprovoked assault on himself was committed by police in uniform; that, on the matter being raised in this House last Session, the dwellings of the manager and engineman were burnt down by forces of the Crown; and that the investigation ordered by himself into this outrage was conducted by some of the men who had looted and fired the creamery on the 18th October, 1920.

Mr. HENRY

I have within the past week had further inquiries made into this matter by police who were not in County Kerry on 18th October last, when a store at the rear of this creamery was burnt. I am aware that Mr. Donovan, the manager, alleges that he was assaulted, and that the store was fired by Crown forces in police and khaki uniforms. I am also aware that his house and that of Mr. Twomey, the fireman, were burnt on 11th November. Mr. Donovan, however, declares himself unable to identify or give evidence against any individual for either charge; and the police are unable to find any person who can give evidence which will lead to the apprehension of the culprits.

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