§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the people of Mallow complained of the conduct of the police on the 22nd May; if he will inquire into the allegations that a number of the constabulary followed certain defendants who had been acquitted and with their sympathisers were marching from the town hall in processional order to the railway, that as they were entering the station from the public road, without calling upon them to disperse, the police batoned several of them, including girls;. that this was carried out by the directions of Head-Constable O'Sullivan, although no violence or breach of the peace had been committed, that everyone in the procession was unarmed, that this was done with the concurrence of the district inspector who was on duty, that Sergeant M'Gill and Head-Constable O'Dwyer used violence against the successful defendants and against an ex-prisoner (who had been acquitted by the advisory committee) named Daniel Hegarty, of Mallow, and that an attempt was made to baton Father Sheehan, which was prevented; and will he, in the interest of the peace of the district, refuse to accept ex parte statements by the accused police and grant an independent inquiry?
§ Mr. DUKEI have received a report of the occurrence in question, which indicates that the action of the police was rendered necessary owing to an attack made upon them by a procession unexpectedly organised in the streets of Mallow. The affair lasted only two or three minutes. No women or girls were batoned, and there is no foundation for the suggestion that an attempt was made to baton Father Sheehan.