asked the Minister for Justice if an inquiry has been held into alleged irregularities by members of the Gárda Síochána during the recent bye-election in Longford-Westmeath, and, if so, what was the result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gárdaí and Elections.
I am in possession of all the facts on which the Deputy based his original allegation, and I am satisfied that nothing occurred on the occasion in question which calls for any action.
asked the Minister for Justice if members of the Gárda Síochána are permitted to act as agents for a candidate in a bye-election or in a general election, and if Gárda Barracks are lent or hired for meetings of a political organisation.
The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
In view of previous charges here about the use of the Clonmellon Gárda Barracks as Cumann na nGaedheal Headquarters during the bye-election, and in view of the fact that I am able to sustain these charges with reliable witnesses, will the Minister grant an inquiry into these charges?
I investigated these charges, and received a very large number of reports on the matter, and I am satisfied there is nothing further to be inquired into.
Will the Minister state from whom he received these reports?
Yes, from the Gárda officer and other persons present at the time that Deputy Kennedy entered the Gárda Station.
Is the Minister aware that the suggestions in these questions are only further attempts at slandering the Gárda Síochána?
Did the Minister receive any reports from persons not associated with the Gárda or the Government Party?
I received reports from every person in the Station at the time that Deputy Kennedy entered.
From every person implicated, in other words.
Is the Minister satisfied that this Gárda Station was not used as Cumann na nGaedheal Headquarters?
Certainly.
Is the Minister aware that on the arrival of Deputy Allen in the Westmeath-Longford constituency on the occasion of that bye-election, he proceeded to bully the entire constituency?
And successfully.
In all probability Deputy Allen did so attempt and failed. There is no necessity for any further inquiry.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that it is alleged that on the evening of June 14th, 1930, members of the Gárda Síochána forcibly dispersed a crowd of people assembled at Lismacaffrey, Co. Westmeath, and, if so, whether he will state by what authority the Gárda acted in this fashion.
On the date and at the place mentioned in the question, the Guards found a bonfire alight on the public road and surrounded by a crowd of people. Bonfires on the public road are illegal, and the particular bonfire was, in the Guards' opinion, not only illegal but actually dangerous. They, therefore, extinguished it and took the necessary steps to see that it was not re-lighted. There were three Guards engaged altogether, and no violence was used.
Is the Minister aware that this place has been used for years for bonfires and that it was so used not longer ago than the 1927 election?
I am not aware of that, and if it were so used it was high time that the practice ceased, because the fire was lighted only a few yards from two dwelling-houses and a hay rick.
Is the Minister aware that the people in the dwelling-houses supplied the material for the bonfire?
I am not aware of that, but if they did they ought to be in a lunatic asylum.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that it is alleged that (1) on the 13th June, 1930, members of the Gárda Síochána stationed at Ballinalee took forms out of the local barracks and placed them in the lorry which was bringing voters to the booths for the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate; (2) that on the night of the 14th June men in civilian garb rushed out from the Ballinaleo barracks and maltreated a number of boys who were celebrating the result of the bye-election.
The first allegation is true to the extent that one form was removed from the Gárda station without interference by the Gárdaí. The second allegation is entirely untrue.
The very fact that the Guards admit a form was removed does in itself call for investigation. Surely the form could not be removed from the barracks without the consent of the Guards. It was not forcibly removed.
I hold investigations for the purpose of ascertaining facts. I have ascertained the fact that one form was removed from the Guards' barracks, and there was one Guard in the station at the time who knew of its removal. I have ascertained that fact.
Does the Minister believe in going to law with the devil in the court of hell?