Pat O'Donnell is Free

Welcome Home Pat

Pat O'Donnell was released this morning from Castlerea Prison at 7:20am. Even to the last, the Prison officials made things as difficult as possible for Pat. The prison officials told Pat that there was a lift outside waiting for him but wouldn't allow him a phone call to confirm this. On leaving the prison there was no lift for him and he was released into the rain.

Yesterday evening at 4pm, prison officials and subsequently the Governor of the Prison went to Pat and told him that he was being released from prison early (1 day) as the prison was “overcrowded”. He was then told that the Minister for Justice had brought forward his release date by a day and he was free to go. Pat refused to leave the prison until he was given this in writing from the Minister for Justice and so spent last night in jail.

Pat O Donnell spent 158 days in Castlerea prison, his full sentence less the amount for being a well behaved prisoner.

He will make his way home after the rally outside Castlerea Prison at 2pm today. 

The launch of Beat the Boreholes in Mayo!

By: 
Rossport Solidarity Camp

[Reminder - Come to welcome Pat O Donnell home at 2pm outside Castlerea Prison this Saturday 17th July] 

Yesterday saw the launch of "Beat the Boreholes"; a campaign of mass civil disobedience to stop Shell works in Mayo this Summer. At 7am in the morning campaigners entered the water in Broadhaven Bay in kayaks and a safety rib in a peaceful attempt to prevent Shell from bringing in a second borehole drilling platform. They were met with 5 Garda water unit boats, with approximately 16 Gardaí on board and 10 security boats. Campaigners attempted to approach the platform but were prevented from doing so by Gardaí who overturned their kayaks. Gardaí arrested 2 campaigners for minor Public Order offences and seized three kayaks, the safety rib & several paddles.

Link: 

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97217&comment_limit=0&condense_comments=...

Shell to Sea campaigner attacked at sea last night

By: 
Shell to Sea

Garda tells campaigner, “I have your last breath in my hands”

At approximately 7pm last night a number of Shell to Sea campaigners entered the water in Broadhaven Bay in kayaks and rafts in a peaceful attempt to prevent Shell from bringing in a borehole drilling platform. They were met with 5 Garda water unit boats, with approximately 16 Gardaí on board.

Campaigners attempted to approach the platform but were prevented from doing so by Gardaí who overturned their kayaks.

One of the campaigners, Eoin Lawless managed to get close to the platform. When Gardaí overturned his kayak, he swam under the platform. A Garda then jumped into the water after him, and without giving any instruction proceeded to drag him from the water into the near by Garda boat.

Shell to Sea Fisherman Pat “The Chief” O’Donnell to be released Saturday 17th July

Event Notice: Protest at Castlerea Prison, 14:00, Saturday 17th July.

Mayo fisherman Mr. Pat O’Donnell is due to be released after 158 days in prison on July 17th. Mr. O’Donnell was sentenced to 7 months imprisonment on relatively minor charges as a consequence of his opposition to Shell’s proposed inland refinery and experimental raw gas pipeline. Mr. O’Donnell is now the longest serving Shell to Sea prisoner. The Rossport 5 served 94 days in prison in 2005.    

 

Mr. O’Donnell possesses fishing rights along the pipeline route which are constitutionally protected and cannot legally be extinguished. He refused Shell’s offers of money to drop his opposition, opting instead to protect his livelihood.

 

[See a clip of Pat standing up to the Solitaire: http://www.thepipethefilm.com]

Syndicate content