Despite an establishment and media onslaught a Mayo community still stands in the way of Shell’s Corrib Gas pipeline, writes Caoimhe Kerins
The campaign against Shell’s inland refinery and high-pressure gas pipeline near Rossport in Co Mayo has seen a small rural community thrown into the frontline of those supporting responsible economic development versus multinational exploitation.
Nine activists who are opposed to the €180 million onshore Corrib gas terminal have had public order charges against them struck out.
A judge ruled yesterday that they had been unlawfully held for more than 27 hours in custody before being brought before a judge of the District Court.
The protesters were arrested by gardaí on June 28th last and held on public order charges after incidents near Glengad beach in Co Mayo, where it is planned that natural gas from the Corrib field will come ashore.
Local residents prosecuted for removing nets placed by Shell at Glengad beach, Co Mayo, to prevent sand martins nesting on the cliffs had the charges against them dropped by the State yesterday.
The charges against nine members of the Erris community were struck out by Judge Gerard Haughton at a special sitting of Belmullet District Court after the State indicated it would not be offering any evidence.
25 out of 27 people prosecuted for resisting Shell’s experimental gas pipeline have cases withdrawn or dismissed
Around the time of the visit of Shell’s pipe-laying ship the Solitaire in June it became clear that the Gardai had been told that they could do anything to remove Shell to Sea campaigners from the scene and they would be looked after. Rulings from the district court, in particular the denial of bail to 7 campaigners charged with the most minor of public order offences removed people with vital water skills from the area by interning them in Mountjoy and Castlerea prisons. Local fisherman Pat O’Donnell had one of his boat sunk from underhim when four masked men boarded the boat in the middle of the night and held Pat and the other crew member at gun point while they sabotaged the boat leading to its sinking. When Pat took to sea in another boat as the Solitaire arrived he was arrested under the Public Order Act for loitering and once more sent to prison leaving the way clear for the Solitaire.
--- Only 1 of 27 campaigners was convicted this week, 1 got the probation act and 25 were dismissed or withdrawn ---
Judge Gerard Haughton ruled today at a special sitting of Belmullet District Court that Shell to Sea campaigner, Eoin Lawless was "unlawfully detained" by Gardai who held him in custody without charge for 6 hours and held him for 27 hours in total last May. Due to this, another 8 related cases were subsequently withdrawn by the State.
Press alert
Issued by Shell to Sea
Thursday, 25th March, 2010
For immediate release
JUDGE THROWS OUT CHARGES AGAINST 19 PROTESTORS
-- Rally for jailed fisherman Pat O'Donnell at Castlerea Prison, Sat 27th March, 3.30pm --
A judge has dismissed charges against all 19 people who were before a court in Mayo today for resisting Shell's experimental high-pressure pipeline and inland refinery.
This week as it was revealed in the Irish Times that 20 months after entering into a legal agreement with local fishermen Shell has still not submitted an application as required to the Environmental Protection Agency to review the emissions licence for the experimental gas pipeline it is imposing on the people of Erris. Yet this week 27 Shell to Sea campaigners are being prosecuted on behalf of Shell in the local courts and today one of them received three five month sentences.
PROTESTERS WHO suspended themselves from triangular scaffolding on the beach in Co Mayo where gas from the Corrib field is to come ashore halted work on the site for a day last year, it emerged at a special sitting of Belmullet District Court.
Judge Gerard Haughton was told that two men, Eoin Ó Leidhín, Barnacuillew, Pollathomas, and another man, who was not in court, remained on two tripods at the site for a whole day, obstructing all beach works.
News Release - Issued by Shell to Sea - April 12th, 2015 - For immediate release
-- Shell to Sea send submission on RTE's Public Service Statement --
Shell to Sea have today sent in a submission to RTE as part of RTE's public consultation on the updating of their Public Service Statement [1]. In the submission, Shell to Sea claimed that RTE had failed to inform the public in an honest and balanced manner on the Corrib Gas project.