CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND)— ALLEGED ASSAULTS ON THREE GIRLS AT CULLEN, NEAR MILLSTREET.
MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.): I wish to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a Question of which I have given him private Notice. It refers to a matter which was the subject of a Question some days ago in the House. An outrage was reported upon three girls, and it was said that they had been beaten with furze upon the legs. I wish to ask the Government, Have their inquiries given them information corresponding to this which I shall read? “We emphatically state that there is no truth in the statement which appeared in The Cork Constitution of Monday, April 11, relative to a supposed outrage which took place on the public road at Cullen on April 3. It is false that our hats were taken off and kicked about the roads; it is also false that our clothes were taken up and we were beaten with furze on the legs, or that we called for help, and when returning home by the same route that we were not in the least molested.” “Signed,” “HONORIA HICKEY.” “ALBINIA O’SULLIVAN.” “ELLY HICKEY.” “Witness,” “John RIORDAN.” “P. O’SULLIVAN.”
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet) (who replied) said: The Question of the hon. Gentleman was put into my hands only a few minutes ago, as I came into the House. I have not seen the statement signed by the three girls; but I am extremely glad to hear that they have made so satisfactory a statement. As far as I have been able to ascertain officially, the report of the alleged outrage was certainly greatly exaggerated; and if any assault was committed on the girls it was by no means so aggravated as reported.
House of Commons – 18 April 1887
This incident can probably be attributed to the Land War of the time, when Millstreet was considered and extremely lawless place and referred to as the “Cockpit of Ireland”. At one stage, Millstreet had more than 80 armed police to enforce the law.
