asked the Minister for Justice if he would state whether he is aware that on the 30th September last a body of armed men opened fire on the hall at Kilfinnane during the progress of a dance; on the 1st November last Patrick Creed's house was fired into; on the 20th January a body of men drilled publicly at Ballinlina, Kilfinnane, carrying arms and firing several rifle shots; and that recently the houses of Mrs. Condon, Ballinanama; Miss Hayes, Ardpatrick; the Ardpatrick Co-operative Creamery and the Darragh Creamery have been broken into and robbed; and if he is aware that in none of these cases have the persons guilty of the offences been charged by the police; and if he will state whether he has caused inquiries to be made into the circumstances existing in the Kilfinnane area with a view to the making of more effective provision to protect the community there from outrages such as these and to punish those who have been guilty of them.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kinfinnane Incidents.
Dr. Ryan
I have received reports from the police in respect of all of the alleged outrages referred to in the Deputy's question, and I am satisfied that in any of these cases in which an offence has been committed the police have done, and will continue to do, everything possible to make the culprits amenable.
Is the Minister aware that nobody has been charged in connection with any of these offences I have mentioned? Will the Minister say whether any special inquiry will be held into the administration of the Gárda in Kilfinnane; or whether there is obviously such neglect on the part of the Gárda as to the whereabouts of the persons who have carried out these outrages?
Dr. Ryan
I think the police in that particular area would appear to have had a very difficult time. For instance, there were 50 malicious and criminal injuries in that particular area in six months. These outrages consisted of blocking roads, cutting telephone and telegraph wires and such things, which, if not encouraged by the Party opposite, are condoned. For these offences 39 people were brought to justice in this particular area, so that the Deputy can take it the police are not at all idle in that district.
Does the Minister consider that shooting at people is a lesser crime than cutting telegraph poles?
Will the Minister say, if 50 crimes of the type he speaks about have been committed and only 39 persons have been brought to justice, whether the action of the police in allowing, without apparently any interference or any arrest of the persons responsible, firing into dance halls and people's houses, the robbery of co-operative creameries and breaking into other houses, was an offset in respect of the other people that they think ought to have been arrested arising out of the 50 outrages the Minister speaks about?
Dr. Ryan
The police are extremely busy. They have arrested 40 members of the League of Youth.
And the I.R.A. men have gone absolutely free? Might I ask the Minister if there have been instructions issued to the police in this area, that they are to deal with people of one political complexion only, and the other people are to have immunity from proceedings against them when they commit crime?
In regard to the particular incidents in this question, the only persons questioned or interviewed were people known to have been completely in opposition to any such occurrences.
Dr. Ryan
I do not think that is true.
Will the Minister make it clear—I want to have it made clear—whether he suggests that the police are so busy getting after people blocking roads, felling trees and cutting telegraph wires that they have not time to find out who were the people who fired into the dance hall or into Patrick Creed's house, or who robbed the various houses and creameries mentioned in the question? Is that the case the Minister wishes to make?
Dr. Ryan
Not at all.
Will the Minister say what is the case he wishes to make?
Next question.