§ Mr. KENYONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether two brothers named Daniel and Patrick Duffin were shot in their house in Belfast on the 23rd April; whether this was a reprisal for the shooting of the Auxiliaries in Belfast on the afternoon of the same day; and whether an inquiry has been held and, if so, with what result?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe finding of the court of inquiry in this case was that the deceased met their death from bullet wounds inflicted by persons unknown, with homicidal intent. No motive can be assigned for the crime, and no arrests have been made, but the police are continuing their inquiries.
§ Mr. KENYONasked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry has been held into the sacking by the police of Drumshambo, County Leitrim, on the 22nd September last; and whether any punishments have been inflicted for this crime?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe allegation that the town of Drumshambo was sacked by the police is entirely untrue. I am informed that one house was burned, and the windows of two other houses were broken on the date mentioned, but that it has not been possible to obtain any information as to the persons by whom these outrages were committed.
§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Chief Secretary whether any punishments have been inflicted for the destruction done by the police in the town of Granard on the 3rd November, 1920, during which 14 houses are alleged to have been burned?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI regret that no information as to the persons who committed this destruction has been obtained.
§ Mr. KILEYasked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry has been held into the sacking of Adrahan on the 26th October last; whether it was public; and what was the finding?
1253W
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAccording to a police report which I have received, five houses in Adrahan, County Galway, were maliciously destroyed or damaged by fire on the 28th September last. The police have been unable to obtain any evidence as to the persons by whom this destruction was committed.
§ Mr. KILEYasked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry has been held into the sacking of Ballaghadereen in September last; and, if so, what was the finding?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAccording to the police reports, a band of armed and disguised men raided Ballaghadereen at 2.30 a.m. on the 2nd September last and burned or otherwise damaged a number of houses and shops in the town. None of the raiders were known to the local police, who have endeavoured without success to obtain information as to their identity. Awards amounting to £75 10s. 5d. have been made on compensation claims in respect of the property destroyed.