The community letter to Shell

Below is the text of the letter, 409 copies of which were signed by members of the community and given to Shell

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Mark Carrigy
Shell E&P Ireland Ltd
4 Údaras na Gaeltachta
Belmullet
County Mayo

Re: Letter of Thursday March 18th 2010 (COR-01-SH-GE-1341)

Mr Carrigy

I am writing in response to your recent letter (your reference above) in which you suggested your company and associates conduct “face-to-face and small group meetings within the community” to discuss “this phase of the Corrib gas project” i.e. possible high-pressure raw-gas pipeline routes through our community.

Following a number of public meetings and wide discussions within the Parish of Kilcommon on the issue, I feel all parties must consider the following points.
 

• Despite numerous opportunities to do so, your company/agents did not at any time enter into open and honest discussions with the people of the area.
• Such discussions should have taken place before the proposed project began, not fourteen years after the Corrib gas field was discovered.
• Both the current and previous Managing Directors of Shell E&P Ireland Ltd have stated - on record - that no changes will be made to the Corrib project in response to community concerns.

Since the proposed development began, your company and/or agents acting on your behalf have been directly responsible for and/or suspected of the following.

• Unnecessary destruction of the natural environment at Glengad and Broadhaven Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
•  Harassment of local people on the roads by construction vehicles in the absence of a proper Traffic Management Plan.
• Repeated trespass on private property.
• Contempt of a District Court Order over trespass issues.
• Threatening letters and phone calls to local residents.
• Construction of an illegal road through the Special Area of Conservation at Glengad.
• Installation of an illegal septic tank in Rossport discharging into Sruwaddacon Bay Special Protection Area (SPA).
• Unjustified and hostile legal action against local residents.
• The jailing of the Rossport Five.
• Illegally constructed gas pipeline at Leenamore and Bellanaboy.
• Continued pollution of the local waterways, including the drinking-water source of Carrowmore Lake.
• Criminal damage to boats at Ballyglass.
• Theft of electricity at Ballyglass Pier.
• Light and noise pollution at numerous locations throughout the parish.
• Suspected fish-kill at Broadhaven Bay.
• Illegal boreholes in the SAC at Glengad.
• Interference with protected Annex II nesting and feeding birds at Glengad and Sruwaddacon Bay.
• Physical attacks on marine mammals in Broadhaven Bay.
• Dumping of excavated materials into the coastal waters.
• Illegal gas pipeline construction at Glengad.
• Illegal construction compounds in Glengad and Rossport.
• Fuel and chemical spills in coastal waters
• Illegal employment of unlicensed security guards.
• Illegal security operation throughout the parish.
• Repeated breaches of road traffic laws, including vehicle registration, tax and insurance violations.
• Harassment of people in public places, including the local beach at Glengad.
• Video surveillance of bathers – including children – at the local beaches.
• Video surveillance of people in their homes.
• Verbal and physical assaults on members of the public, e.g. Willie Corduff on Shell property in 2009.
• Misleading the public and statutory authorities on technical and health and safety issues.
• Ongoing attempts to criminalize the local community, e.g. jailing of Erris fisherman Pat O’Donnell.
• Sinking of local fishing boat “Iona Isle”.
• Theft of and damage to local fishing gear.
• Involvement in recruiting international terrorists.

Considering all of the above, which effectively amounts to ongoing and escalating physical and psychological harassment - and particularly whilst Pat O’Donnell remains unjustly incarcerated - I have decided not to meet with you or any of your agents in relation to the proposed Corrib gas project for the foreseeable future.

Signed
 

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