No justice for Shell to Sea campaigners as judge jails fisherman

On Thursday, Shell to Sea campaigner and local fisherman Pat O'Donnell was sentenced to seven months in jail in Castlebar Circuit Court.

Gardai alleged that Pat O'Donnell was part of a group of protestors who surrounded an unmarked garda surveillance vehicle and "intimidated" the cops inside.

The judge, Raymond Groarke, upheld a charge of an alleged “breach of the peace” and allegedly "obstructing a Garda".

In June last year  Pat O’Donnell, and his crewman Martin McDonnell  had their vessel sunk by armed men as they were peacefully fishing off Erris Head in open sea.

The incident took place at 2 am and the fishermen narrowly escaped with their lives by boarding a life raft as the 12 metre Iona Isle began sinking.

Altough Shell E&P Ireland  denied being responsible, it was noted that Pat O’Donnell, who runs a shellfish company in Erris, refused to sign up to an agreement the previous year between Shell E&P Ireland and the Erris Fishermen’s Association over facilitating the laying of the offshore Corrib gas pipeline, due to his concerns about pollution from the refinery discharge pipe.

Under existing legislation, the developer cannot compel him to remove his fishing gear.

The jailing of Pat O'Donnell is part of a concerted clampdown on protests against the Corrib project. Gardai have been deployed in large numbers to prevent protests and harass demonstrators.

In total 21 people appeared before Mayo courts the same day in relation to protests against the Corrib Gas Project. Fourteen campaigners appeared before Belmullet District court which were all adjourned until March, while seven were involved in appeal cases before Judge Raymond Groarke in Castlebar Circuit Court.

And Judge Groarke felt no restraint in is denunciation of those protesting the despoliation of the Mayo coast for the profits of Shell. He denounced Pat  as a “thug” and “a bully”.

Pat O'Donnell had earlier said, "All I am trying to do is protect my family and the seas that are our livelihood.  My family has fished these waters for five generations - I have no authority to sell the rights to these waters"

Prominent Shell to Sea campaigner Maura Harrington, who was convicted by Judge Groarke of obstructing a gate with her car at the Shell compound in Glengad on August 13th, 2008, was fined and banned from driving for two years. He accused her  and her supporters of acting like secret police.

Chillingly Judge Groarke criminalised the taking of video pictures. “There are no circumstances in which reconnaissance by private armies will be tolerated,” the judge stated.

Maura Harrington said in court that there was a “degree of societal dysfunction in Erris where Shell contractors and supporters are given a degree of impunity not given to those who are trying to exercise their rights.”

Despite the vindication of the campaign by An Bord Pleanála - who in November rejected over half of Shell's latest on-shore pipeline route on safety grounds – those who have rightly campaigned against the project over the years continue to be dragged before the courts, and in some cases jailed..

The police and judicial suppression of peaceful political protest and expression must be vigorously resisted. We should demand that the licence for Shell's activities in the area be immediately revoked and criminal sanctions against Pat, Maura and others be rescinded. Trade unionists should insist that their unions take up these demands as part of that campaign.

On Thursday, Shell to Sea campaigner and local fisherman Pat O'Donnell was sentenced to seven months in jail in Castlebar Circuit Court.

Gardai alleged that Pat O'Donnell was part of a group of protestors who surrounded an unmarked garda surveillance vehicle and "intimidated" the cops inside.

The judge, Raymond Groarke, upheld a charge of an alleged “breach of the peace” and allegedly "obstructing a Garda".

In June last year  Pat O’Donnell, and his crewman Martin McDonnell  had their vessel sunk by armed men as they were peacefully fishing off Erris Head in open sea.

The incident took place at 2 am and the fishermen narrowly escaped with their lives by boarding a life raft as the 12 metre Iona Isle began sinking.

Altough Shell E&P Ireland  denied being responsible, it was noted that Pat O’Donnell, who runs a shellfish company in Erris, refused to sign up to an agreement the previous year between Shell E&P Ireland and the Erris Fishermen’s Association over facilitating the laying of the offshore Corrib gas pipeline, due to his concerns about pollution from the refinery discharge pipe.

Under existing legislation, the developer cannot compel him to remove his fishing gear.

The jailing of Pat O'Donnell is part of a concerted clampdown on protests against the Corrib project. Gardai have been deployed in large numbers to prevent protests and harass demonstrators.

In total 21 people appeared before Mayo courts the same day in relation to protests against the Corrib Gas Project. Fourteen campaigners appeared before Belmullet District court which were all adjourned until March, while seven were involved in appeal cases before Judge Raymond Groarke in Castlebar Circuit Court.

And Judge Groarke felt no restraint in is denunciation of those protesting the despoliation of the Mayo coast for the profits of Shell. He denounced Pat  as a “thug” and “a bully”.

Pat O'Donnell had earlier said, "All I am trying to do is protect my family and the seas that are our livelihood.  My family has fished these waters for five generations - I have no authority to sell the rights to these waters"

Prominent Shell to Sea campaigner Maura Harrington, who was convicted by Judge Groarke of obstructing a gate with her car at the Shell compound in Glengad on August 13th, 2008, was fined and banned from driving for two years. He accused her  and her supporters of acting like secret police.

Chillingly Judge Groarke criminalised the taking of video pictures. “There are no circumstances in which reconnaissance by private armies will be tolerated,” the judge stated.

Maura Harrington said in court that there was a “degree of societal dysfunction in Erris where Shell contractors and supporters are given a degree of impunity not given to those who are trying to exercise their rights.”

Despite the vindication of the campaign by An Bord Pleanála - who in November rejected over half of Shell's latest on-shore pipeline route on safety grounds – those who have rightly campaigned against the project over the years continue to be dragged before the courts, and in some cases jailed..

The police and judicial suppression of peaceful political protest and expression must be vigorously resisted. We should demand that the licence for Shell's activities in the area be immediately revoked and criminal sanctions against Pat, Maura and others be rescinded. Trade unionists should insist that their unions take up these demands as part of that campaign.