asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that on the night of Saturday, 16th June, Mr. Kieran Holland was savagely attacked in the Main Street, Templemore, by a party of men who travelled through the town in a motor car and one of whom was armed with a hammer, and if he will state if the persons guilty of this offence have been identified and charged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleged Assaults at Templemore.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that on the night of Saturday, 16th June, a number of persons attending a Fianna Fáil meeting in Templemore attacked the house of Mr. Thomas Kennedy, in Patrick Street, broke his windows with stones and assaulted a number of persons; and if he will state whether the persons who committed this offence have been identified and charged.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that on Saturday night, the 16th June, a number of persons followed Mr. Bernard Ryan from Patrick Street, Templemore, through some fields outside the town, and attacked with stones a house in which they thought he had sheltered and threatened the owner with a revolver; and if he will state whether the persons guilty of this offence have been identified and charged.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he is aware that on Sunday evening, the 17th June, a mob attacked the house of Mr. Kieran Holland in Templemore, and that on his preparing to defend his home and family with the best weapon available, i.e., a fork, a sergeant of the Gárda arrested Mr. Holland and detained him in custody until 2.30 a.m. and that Mr. Holland alleges much unnecessary violence was used in arresting him; and if he will state whether the persons guilty of the offence of attacking Mr. Holland's home have been identified and charged; and if he will also state on what charge Mr. Holland was arrested by the Gárda; and what steps were taken by the Gárda to protect his home and family in his absence.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that the members of a Roscrea band who attended a Fianna Fáil meeting in Templemore on the night of Saturday, 16th June, attacked and forcefully entered the home of Mr. Kieran Holland on their way back to Roscrea and in his absence broke the windows of the house with stones and smashed up his furniture and delph; and if he will state whether the persons guilty of this outrage have been identified and charged.
Dr. Ryan
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 6 together. Police inquiries with a view to instituting prosecutions are still proceeding in connection with the incidents which occurred at Templemore on the 16th and 17th instant. It would not be proper, in these circumstances, to discuss the matter by way of question and answer in this House. I desire, however, to make it plain that the information at my disposal does not agree, in many particulars, with the suggestions contained in the questions.
Is the Minister in a position to say if any persons have been definitely charged in respect of any of the six offences?
Dr. Ryan
I cannot give any further information.