§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary whether he had received information of an outrage committed last week on eighteen head of cattle, the property of Patrick Clifford and Michael Morris, of Glencar, county Kerry, when being driven on the high road by their owners to graze on a neighbouring farm, a gang of men scattering and pursuing the cattle, with the result that one bullock was found with its throat cut and another in a deep dyke with its leg broken in two places, while Michael Morris himself was threatened with a revolver and robbed of money; and whether the constabulary had been able, as yet, to arrest any perpetrators of the outrage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed by the police that two men named Patrick Clifford and Michael Morris, when driving some cattle through Firies about 2 a.m. on the 11th instant, were stopped by a number of men. Clifford states that he was struck, and that a revolver was pointed at him. He also alleged that he was robbed, but subsequently denied it. Morris ran away. The cattle were scattered, with the result that one was found with a deep gash on its neck, and another with a broken leg, having apparently fallen down a deep bank. The men who attacked Morris and Clifford have not been identified, and the police have not as yet been able to make any arrests. The owner of the cattle has lodged a claim for compensation. The outrage corresponds very closely to another which was committed at the same place in August last, and it is very probable that the same men committed both. If so the motive was the same in each case—namely, to obtain money for drink.