§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry has been held into the outrages alleged to have been committed by members of the Crown forces at Cloone, County Leitrim, in November last, including the beating and other ill-treatment of young men and boys and the burning and looting of a number of houses; and whether any of the culprits have been identified?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThese allegations, which appeared in the Press, were carefully inquired into at the time, and the police reported that they were unable to find any justification for them. No report of the alleged occurrences, other 1259W than the newspaper version, was received by the police, and the persons indicated as the victims of maltreatment refused, on being questioned, to give any information or to assist the inquiry in any way whatever.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry has been held into the alleged sacking by troops of Doon, County Limerick, on 5th August, 1920; and whether any punishments have been inflicted?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that this allegation is entirely without foundation. A number of houses in Doon were searched on the 5th August by troops who were obliged to force an entry in several cases, but no unnecessary damage was committed.
§ Mr. RAFFANasked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry was held into the wrecking by police at Kill, County Waterford, on the 25th August last; and whether any punishments were inflicted?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODFrom the inquiries which I have made into the matter I am satisfied that there is no foundation whatever for the allegation contained in the first part of this question. The second part of the question therefore does not arise.