asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether his attention has been directed to a statement in the "Catholic Herald" of the 23rd January, 1926, in which it was stated that Post Office workers went on strike and burned the Sorting Office at the Rotunda Rink, Dublin, and whether, in view of the serious and unwarranted reflection which the statement makes upon the Post Office staff, he will disavow the allegation that the building was burned by the Post Office staff.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BURNING OF ROTUNDA RINK.
My attention had not previously been drawn to the statement referred to, but the allegation is so entirely groundless and undeserved that even had it come under my notice I would have ignored it. The facts are that those of the Post Office workers who had been on strike resumed duty on the 30th September, 1922, and it was not till Sunday, the 5th November, 1922, that the Rink was raided and set on fire by armed men. At the time only a few officers were on duty, and they were forcibly ejected from the building by the raiders. There has never been any reason to suspect complicity on the part of the Post Office staff. On the contrary, I had occasion to commend and thank three officers who came on duty after the raiders had left for their prompt and determined efforts to save the building.