Sir Hamar Greenwood went on to defend the Army and
the Royal Irish Constabulary against the cruel and lying charges, brought against them. He said that they were denounced because they were succeeding in their task of suppressing the terror, which was now restricted to a few Western counties and•to Dublin. The troops and police were ordered to fire if they suspected an ambush, because the " Republican Army " instructed its men to shoot soldiers and policemen at sight. The Chief Secretary admitted that after the murder of District Inspector Brady, killed by explosive bullets, his comrades lost control of themselves and burned some shops ; but he added; that the shopkeepers had all connived at the crime. He referred also to the Ennistymon and Balbriggan oases, as other exceptions. to the rule. He could not, he said, condemn the police who lost their heads in the same way as he condemned_ the assassins who provoked them. There was no evidence whatever to show that any servants of the Crown had destroyed any creameries. The Government intended to disarm the whole population, including Ulster, and hoped within a few months to put an end to the murder campaign.
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