To Whom it concerns,
Regarding the Follow-up programme on recommendations to the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Ireland, we would like to draw attention to the situation as regards policing in the area known as Erris in North West County Mayo on Ireland's western seaboard. This area has been the location of ongoing conflict between police and local communities as a result of a government decision to allow the development of a massive natural gas processing plant (the Corrib Gas Project) proceed in a populated and environmentally sensitive area. (See background overleaf for more details).
Policing activity in Erris has included surveillance, profiling, harassment, verbal abuse including threats of rape, physical assault, use of heavy machinery against unarmed citizens and the misapplication of public order legislation to attempt to break protests. Police tactics have been the subject of strong criticism from human rights observers ranging from the FrontLine Defenders, Global Community Monitor, AFRI and the TABLE observers. In November 2012 the UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggya visited the area to report on the situation of human rights defenders here in Erris. Unfortunately however none of the recommendations that relate to the Corrib Gas Project that Ms Sekaggya made on her mission to Ireland have been implemented.
Posted Date:
30 April 2014