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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Dec 1929

Vol. 32 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Limerick Fishery Board Meeting.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the reasons why Mr. Anthony Mackey, of Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, was interrogated by a member of the Gárda Síochána when proceeding to a meeting of the Limerick Fishery Board, held at Limerick on November 20th, 1929; who was the officer who gave such instructions, and what was the reason for issuing them; and if the public can be excluded from being present at meetings of the Limerick Fishery Board.

The interrogation of Mr. Anthony Mackey when proceeding to a meeting of the Limerick Fishery Board at Limerick on November 20th took place in the following circumstances: The Gárda Síochána were informed that on the 26th October, 1925, Mr. Mackey brought a crowd of some 30 persons who were not conservators to a meeting of the Limerick Board of Conservators for the purpose of obstruction. They were aware that in October, 1928, special precautions had to be taken to prevent an organised attempt to interrupt the business of the Board on the 24th of that month, and they also were informed that on the 1st October of the present year Mr. Mackey, accompanied by one Michael Mackey and one Seán Carroll, broke up a meeting of the Conservators in Killaloe, having forced the chairman to leave the chair, and then held a meeting of their own. The Conservators were apprehensive that a further effort at obstruction would be made at the meeting of the Board on the 20th ultimo, and they requisitioned the services of the Gárda Síochána to help in the keeping of good order. A suitable number of police were detailed in the ordinary official way for this duty, and with a view to ascertaining the names of persons attending the meeting each person approaching the meeting was interrogated, including Mr. Mackey. Nobody was prevented by the police from entering the building. As regards the power of exclusion of the public, I am informed that Rule 7 of the Standing Orders adopted by the Limerick Board of Conservators provides for the exclusion of the public from meetings of the Board. No doubt Mr. Mackey, who is a member of the Board, is familiar with the provision of this Standing Order.

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