asked the Minister for Justice what action he proposes to take, if any, as to the alleged attempted shooting of Mrs. Parker, of Streete, and Michael Mullens, of Ballinaleck, County Westmeath, during the recent bye-election.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleged Shooting at Streete.
So far as I am aware there is no evidence that anybody attempted to shoot either of the persons named. The Gárdaí do not believe that any such attempt was made. The question of taking action against anybody consequently does not arise.
The Minister will recollect that I produced here the cases of bullets that were got outside the house of Mrs. Parker. I produced them when I made a statement here about the matter; they were found the morning after the shooting. Surely these charges are serious enough to demand investigation.
These charges have been investigated, and there is the fact that her neighbours never heard shooting, even one person living some twenty yards away. There is the fact that person never heard any shot, and the statement the lady herself made to the Guards has led the Guards to the certain conclusion that there was no attempt made to shoot at her house. As far as the empty cases are concerned, empty cases can be left by anybody anywhere. I also know that no empty case was given to the Guards.
Were not those investigations made by the very people against whom the charges were preferred?
No. The investigations were made by the Gárda officer in charge. I might also mention to the House that the Deputy, when dealing with this matter on the Adjournment, spoke about this man Mullens, and he did not suggest that any shots were fired at Mullens. There was no suggestion that there was a shot fired at him until this question was put down. That shows the value of all these charges.