asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he is aware that on the night of the 5th of May, for a considerable time before a dance under Fine Gael auspices was due to commence at the Lyric Theatre in Glentworth Street, Limerick, the Gárda Síochána authorities permitted crowds to collect on the streets around the approaches to the dance hall and in some cases within 50 yards thereof and to sing and shout and conduct themselves in such a manner as to lead to violent attacks on persons approaching the hall; that many persons suffered from this violence and many were intimidated from attending the dance; that the neglect of the Gárda to intervene to prevent disorder at an early stage contributed to its greater violence in its later stages, and if he will state who was responsible for the failure of the Gárda to take earlier steps to prevent disorder, and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disorder in Limerick
From the reports which I have received in this matter I am satisfied that the Guards took every reasonable precaution to protect persons attending the dance in question and that their efforts were, in the main, successful. I am not aware that any person was prevented from attending the dance or was assaulted with the exception of one girl, wearing a blue blouse, who was assaulted at a point in O'Connell Street, 350 yards from the hall where the dance was held. Her injuries were fortunately of a minor character.
Is the Minister not aware that, as the question states, for two hours before this dance was due to commence a crowd numbering thousands was allowed to collect at every possible approach to this dance; that even when representations were made to the chief officer in command, he refused to take any action to provide a passage-way for people attending the dance; that there was no method of ingress to the dance for people coming thereto except to move forcibly through a crowd numbering thousands? I should also like to say that the Minister's information that there was only one person injured at this particular dance is not correct.
The duty of the officer in question was to prevent any breach of the peace and to afford reasonable protection. I am satisfied that he did that. The information I have is that only one person was injured.
Is the Minister's reply based upon inquiries which have been fully completed?
On inquiries to date in any case.
Is it the position that a conspiracy may exist in a city like Limerick to prevent people doing their ordinary business and exercising their ordinary rights and that the policy may completely fail to make any attempt to secure that they will be able to carry out these duties and exercise these rights properly; and that the Minister will take no further steps except to inquire into the matter as is evidenced by the answer given to the question raised by Deputy Bennett?
Has the Deputy any knowledge as to why all these farmers in County Limerick are dancing?
Does the Minister propose that the farmers of County Limerick are to be prevented from attending dances and that a Bill is to be brought in to prevent them from having music at dances?
Is the Minister aware that this opposition to this particular dance was prearranged and premeditated and that there is evidence that it was prearranged and premeditated?
I have no information of that.
In view of the unsatisfactory reply by the Minister, I propose to raise this matter on the adjournment.
The Vote for the office of the Minister for Justice was under discussion last week and the debate on that Vote has not yet concluded.
I raised this question in a very brief way on the Vote for the Minister's Department. The Attorney-General replied a few minutes afterwards. He made but a passing reference to it and did not elucidate it in any manner possible. That is why I put down this question, so as to get further information on the matter.
The Deputy will have an opportunity to raise the matter before the debate on the Vote of the Department of the Minister for Justice has concluded.
I have already spoken.
The Deputy may speak again as Estimates are considered in Committee.