A total of 953 people were detained under the act. Many of them were active in the Irish National Land League; this was sufficient for the "reasonable suspicion" required by the act. On 13 October 1881, IPP leader Charles Stewart Parnell was arrested under the act after his newspaper, the United Ireland, had attacked the Land Law (Ireland) Act 1881.
Under the act, 953 people were detained, with many being members of the Irish National Land League. This level of activity was deemed sufficient to justify "reasonable suspicion" for arrest. On October 13, 1881, Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the Irish People's Party (IPP), was arrested due to his newspaper, The United Ireland, criticizing the Land Law (Ireland) Act of 1881.