Rossport residents injuncted at behest of Shell

mayo | environment | news report

Tuesday April 05, 2005 13:50

by Majella Mc Carron

News from the High Court relating to Shell in Mayo

For background on this case see:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=69084

Yesterday 4 April the High Court case was concluded at
1pm.

Shell was granted a temporary injunction which means it can freely enter the lands of the defendants and if resisted can call on the forces of the State.

The defendants were and are despondent because they see no protection between themselves and the State and Shell.

However the main part of the 2 hour session was taken up by two defendants representing themselves and
presenting their submissions.

Brendan Philbin maintains that the documents he has received to date
do not confirm an instrument of consent.

He read out a reply from the Ombudsman that seemed to fully support his argument.

Breege Mc Garry spoke for more than an hour and the contents of her first and supplementary affidavits are worth close study. Hopefully they will be summarised
in due course. Her self defence before the President of the High Court has been most impressive.

Sufficient time was afforded to the defence and the plaintiffs over four full days.

Every one of her arguments and of the other defendants show up the arrogance of a
multinational in pursuing a projected 15 year gas flow.
Ireland does not need gas until 2025 by which time this so called find will have been exhausted.

It smacks of stealing apples from the orchard to sell to one's friends behind everyone's backs and destroying the fruit bearing trees as well.

Phadraig Campbell from Galway decided to draw the attention of Statoil, Norway to the situation and before 4pm a letter was handed into the Norwegian Embassy-the Government owns 70% of Statoil and a 36%
share in the North Corrib Consortium along with Shell and Marathon. Norway has very strict regulatory conditions on its own oil and gas industries.

The letter was signed by Phadraig and Majella for the Campaign to Protect Resources and Ogoni Solidarity
Ireland. Help in this action was given by William and a photographer from Indymedia.

The letter and photo is expected on Indymedia very soon.

After further clarification about respecting farming activities in progress at this time as directed by the judge we await the outcome of two judicial reviews on related matters before the Commercial Court.