asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he has received a report that on the night of the 30th June/1st July the League of Youth Hall at Bridgetown, County Wexford, was forcibly entered and tables, chairs, a billiard table and other contents of the hall destroyed; the doors and the roof damaged, and an attempt made completely to destroy the hall; and if he will state whether the persons guilty of this outrage have been identified and charged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disorder in County Wexford and County Limerick.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he has received a report that on the night of the 2nd April last, a number of persons attending a dance in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, were attacked in the main street by a mob of men and boys, armed with pieces of iron, clubs wrapped with barbed wire and at least one reaping hook, and that several persons were seriously injured; and if he will state whether the persons guilty of this outrage have been identified and charged.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. The incidents referred to in these questions are at present the subject of police inquiries and may result in court proceedings. In these circumstances I do not think it would be proper for me to make any statement at this stage.
Will the Minister say, arising out of his reply to question No. 6, how it is that on the 19th day of July a matter which took place on the 2nd April is still under inquiry, although information in respect of that matter was given to the Guards immediately after the 2nd April.
Enquiries have not been completed as yet in any case.
Will the Minister say what are the aspects of the occurrence in Abbeyfeale which make it impossible for the Guards to have completed their inquiries inside more than three months after the occurrence in view of the fact that definite information was given to the Guards after the occurrence on 2nd April as to who were, some, at any rate, of the persons who were implicated in the matter?
I do not propose to discuss it at this stage.
Can the Minister say when he expects that those inquiries will be completed?
I cannot say definitely.
Is it possible that nothing can be done to find the blackguards who burned the Hibernian Hall at Bridgetown?
That is a separate question.
It is a separate job too.
It is Question No. 5.
The Deputy is quite right.