National Protest for Pat ( The Chief ) O' Donnell

Pat O'Donnell is now entering into his second month in Castlerea prison in Co Roscommon. There will be a national protest outside the prison on the 27th (Sat week).If you would like to book a space to travel down with Dublin Shell to Sea please text or ring Dublin S2S on 086 736 2417 . Tickets 15-20 euro depending on final costs. People will recall the attempted murder on Pat back in June 2009 when black-clad terrorists boarded his trawler and sank it, leaving him to drown. See Reports that Pat the Chief's boat was sunk last night for more details on these disturbing events last year.

Pat O'Donnell is now entering into his second month in Castlerea prison in Co Roscommon. . There will be a national protest outside the prison on the 27th (Sat week).If you would like to book a space to travel down with Dublin Shell to Sea please text or ring Dublin S2S on 086 736 2417 . Tickets 15-20 euro depending on final costs.

Pat O'Donnell's Reality.

Pat has stood up to Shell since the Erris Inshore Fisherman's Association united in 2005 to oppose offshore pipelaying in Broadhaven Bay. Regrettably, Shell paid off the fishermen over the course of the last few years. Pat refused any pay-off by Shell, including an offer of 300,000 euro in 2009. Yes … Three Hundred Thousand Euro. Pat and his son Johnathan have been arrested while fishing in their boats and detained in custody, with no charges arising, on different occasions while Shell boats tore their fishing gear from their moorings at sea. Pat has been singled out along with his brothers for assault by Gardaí at Bellanaboy and been punched in the face sustaining facial injuries and broken teeth. In the early morning of June 11th 2009, as the pipe-laying ship the Solitaire prepared to steam to Broadhaven Bay, Pat's fishing boat was boarded by 4 masked men, 2 of whom held him and his crewman Martin McDonnell at gunpoint in the wheelhouse while the 2 others went down to the engine room to scuttle the boat. The boat sank to ocean floor while Pat and Martin had to be rescued from their lifeboat.

Let's put it this way, Pat knows a thing or two about thugs and bullies.

He has come under intense focus, pressure and attack for opposing Shell.

He blew off some steam at the Gardaí at protests surrounding Maura's hunger strike in 2008, fell foul of the law and is serving 7 months in jail for a breach of the peace and the obstruction of a Garda. His behaviour on these occasions may not be justified terms of the law, but I for one would be more than willing to excuse him under the circumstances. But what's inexcusable is for a judge to go on and brand him as something that he's not, in ignorance of the circumstances and with no understanding of the reality with which Pat O'Donnell has to live.

Pat may have made mistakes, we all do, but now Pat has to live with an extra tarnish attached to him by the added mistake of Judge Groarke who went a step to far.

Note: The prison address is: Castlerea Prison, Harristown, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.