Shramore Five Lock Out Shell.
mayo |
environment |
news report 
Tuesday June 05, 2007 19:09
by Max - text & Niall - pics - Shell to Sea
"Peaceful my arse you cunt", Supt. Joe Gannon speaks to protest spokeswoman.
On Tuesday morning, June 5th, a team of five protesters and their support crew successfully halted Shells operation in Erris for five hours through the use of "lock-On" arm tubes. The blockade ended with the five being cut loose from each other by the fire brigade and arrested whilst a crowd of around thirty people cheered them on. Shramore is the final stop on the peat haulage route from the site of the proposed gas refinery at Bellanaboy.
Terence Conway of Shell to Sea in Mayo who was present at the protest said "this is an outrageous deal, the government has consistently put out myths about the benefits of this project for the people of Ireland. There are no benefits of this project for the people of Ireland, there are no royalties and all tax is cost deductible which means that Shell, Statoil and Marathon benefit from the deal while the people of Ireland don't benefit at all. This deal needs to be renegotiated immediately".
The stoppage commenced at 7.00 a.m. at the peat deposition site when the protesters emerged with their support crew. Three unsuspecting security personnel shut the gates (presumably expecting some kind of trespass or site occupation). This gave the team sufficient time to lock themselves together on the ground in front of the gates. They did this through linking their arms together inside a dual tube system laced with concrete and steel rods. The police did not arrive on the scene until ten minutes later when banners reading "stop before it's too late!" had been hung from the gates.
Initially the police response was bemused – they were informed that if they attempted to move the people on the ground it would be very likely that they would break their arms. This was filmed and all the police numbers were relayed to a supporter in Dublin. The mood changed when Superintendent Joe Gannon arrived on the scene and a spokesperson informed him that it was a peaceful protest. "Peaceful my arse you cunt" was the response he made to this woman after which he tore down the banners. About an hour later a more supporters arrived on the scene and the police violently removed all support crew from the gates, dragging a couple of people by the hair including a trained medic. The spokesperson once again read out a statement informing the police that they would break the arms of the protesters if they attempted to move them themselves and that they should instead call the fire brigade to deal with the situation. This was ignored and a medic made a run across the road to the protesters after one of the girls screamed when they tried to move her. The medic was grabbed by five officers and hit a number of times before being thrown to the ground.
Over two hours after the protest began the fire brigade finally arrived. By this point the people had been without water for over an hour and the police had refused them access to a doctor despite them visibly burning in the sun and a number of concerned local residents demanding that the five should be given access to medical attention. The firemen gave them water and began to figure out how to cut the group loose – it took them three hours by which time a larger group of supporters had assembled across the road from them.
This tactic was adopted due to the Garda strategy of violence and intimidation. It is difficult to argue that protesters are being violent when they are lying on the ground and unable to move. Unfortunately the misinformation strategy continues. In one instance whilst the fire brigade were cutting the protesters free, a Garda informed a colleague that one of the girls would need stitches in front of the mother of one of the people locked on. Later the police informed a radio journalist that the arrestees had been charged with firearms offences- in fact they were all charged with minor public order offences. The journalist in question has since stated that they will be making a complaint to the Garda ombudsman.
The protest aimed to demonstrate that the issue of the Corrib controversy will not go away. The protesters hope that members of any prospective government recognise the urgent need for a renegotiation of the deal that will not be at the expense of the people of Ireland or their environment. The great Corrib gas swindle cannot be permitted to happen nor will it be allowed.
The 'Five' will appear at Belmullet District Court next Wednesday 13th June, to answer some minor public order offences. Support welcome.
Comments (51 of 51)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51Care and support for the 'Five', spoiled by the arrival of Shell's cops.
Support protesters assaulted and removed from a calm and stable peaceful protest.
Medic Eoin assaulted and removed from caring for his friends.
Medic Caoimhe dragged by the hair and bruised in similar circumstances.
And Tom Philbin, Brendan’s brother.
Locked-On Protesters Isolated.
Fire Brigade arrive.
It took the fire brigade three hours to cut them out.
Thanks to the members of Mayo County Fire Brigade for their sensitivity in dealing with the 'Five'. They returned their roll mats to them and put blankets and pillows under their heads, after the Gardaí had removed those items. They also ensured that the 'Five' were given water to drink after being deprived of liquids by the Gardaí for hours in the hot sun and after having been refused consultation with Caoimhe, their friend and a trained medic.
Supt Joe Gannon will not repent. He continues to dish out nasty abuse.
Great action,fair play to all of you,you inspire us as we are here in Germany under the cosh of the biggest police overkill I have ever seen..
Solidarity!
They are in the Garda station for us,we are on the losse for them!
Have been very moved by the quality of the action. True act! There is such power in powerlessness if we are brave enough. Particularly shown in the wonderful photographs.
Photos of the actual cut-out release were difficult, and the five were arrested and put into the Paddywagon out of sight behind the fire truck. It was only after they were taken to Belmullet Garda Station that we were able to get access to finish with these last pics.
Media arrive just in time to see protesters cut out and released.
Fire Brigade Cutting Equipment
Some pipe and concrete debris.
I am shocked that a group which protests for safety used up the time of fire fighters and their equipment and then laugh about it in these photos. Had an accident or fire occured somewhere else there could have been a serious fatality. What a sick abuse of an already stretched fire service where the next nearest station is a hours drive away. Its time the shell to sea group took a good long look at themselves for a change.
In the UK the cops deal with lock ons, the fire brigade deal with emergencies. It was the cops who declared this blockade an emergency situation, not the protestors.
Fair play to the fire brigade for being so professional, but the cops here could have handled this a lot better than they did. It's not that tricky to do... if you're a calm rational person...
good stuff lads, well done, keep it up.
dunk
rte news report:
Five Corrib protestors charged after demo
http://rte.ie/news/2007/0605/corrib.html
irish times:
Protesters held at Bord na Móna plant
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0605/bre...4.htm
Dear Shocked,
You accidentally hit the nail on the head when you mentioned how far away the next fire station is. That's exactly the sort of reasoning we use to highlight how ludicrous this proposed project is, and why it's, in the words of the original Bord Pleanala report: "the wrong project in the wrong place".
Glad to see you're a S2S supporter at heart.
Many thanks to the Firemen who showed the Guards a thing or two about sensitive public service.
Good peaceful protest.
It took guts to do that.
Pity some representatives of the state let themselves down. When did you last hear a man call a woman a c**t?
well done to one and all from all shell 2 sea supporters in cork!
The Fire Brigade answers all calls for people in distress irrespective of distinction. As one commentator has said it has taught us a very useful lesson. The BP Texas refinery explosion killed 15 people instantly and injured and traumatised many more in a recent accident. Who would build a dangerous refinery in an inhabited area difficult of access and requirng huge emergency standby 24/7 for years? Has the Fire Service been consulted on its abilities to manage disaster at a refinery and along a pipeline 24/7 for years.
Pleased to hear Conway's statement on the reasons for the protest. Could we hear from the protestors themselves. The message is so important. All focus should be on the core of the protest. The media go for the hype and this clouds the message. Keep the message up front every moment as new viewers and sympathisers come on the scene.
i have huge respect and support for what you all did yesterday..
thanks for posting the photos
Regardless if the terminal gets built we should have our own fire station and ambulance in rossport. Why should we have to wait for emergency services in this modern age, it’s a disgrace it would not happen any where else.
Those good people who lay down on the road could have suffered less if the emergency services were localised instead of waiting in agony to be released.
Sometimes you have to do what you believe is right, in order to draw attention to an issue and peaceful protest is perfectly acceptable. If shell wern't in Mayo, neither the guards nor the firebrigade would be wasting their time cutting the protestors out.
So maybe shocked, should consider this, there are very few ambulances, firebrigades or police around when Ordinary Citizens die of horrific burns or toxic fumes in third world countries and does anyone care? I doubt it. as shell would say" its the Price of Progress.
So perhaps concentrate on getting shell out of Ireland for good
Well done to the protestors, keep up the good work!
"concentrate on getting shell out of Ireland for good"
and what then? where will we get our petrol/heating oil/ect.ect?
you seem to be living in fairyland.
we need fuel, are you saying just shell or all oil companiesincluding marahoton in kinsale ?
Get a grip!
If Shell or any other Oil or Gas company refuse to obey basic environmental laws and human rights, yes! they should be kicked out, once they get a foot in the door, all will be lost and it will be too late to turn back, there are safe methods to get the oil and gas reserves along the west coast and they arn't being addressed talk to anyone in the know in S2S, it all comes down to the simple fact GREED! GREED! GREED!
"talk to anyone in the know in S2S"
who would that be?
there are other better ways to go about this but our politicians chose to sell us out for some reason. (among them ray burke, a disgraced known crook)
If not prepared to do it ourselves (like norway did) then we could have hired norway state company as a contractor to extract our gas for us for a percentage.
and before you go on about the uncertainty, we had the same surveys that o'reilly had. We paid for them. If you ask me, they knew there were deposits of gas and oil off the coast for a quite a while but they sat on them until the political climate allowed the terms to be "tweaked" in their favour
this gas could have given us some energy security and paid for schools, health and infrastructure projects
instead
they dismantled our state petroleum body
they weakened our terms to worse than those of nigeria
they sent hundreds of gardai to beat up protesters
they jailed locals who objected on safety grounds
they gave 400 acres of coillte land for a refinery that requires 12 acres
the list goes on.
we were screwed on this deal. we will have to clean up the mess they make. we'll get none of the profit. we'll be left with polluted coastline. we would be better off to leave the gas there under the current terms.
anyone with 2 brain cells can see that.
the only reasons I can see for defending this deal are
(1)if you are a troll
(2)if you have a vested interest (you work for shell, or stand to gain financially)
or
(3)you are a complete fuckwit
There will be a fundraiser for the Shell 2 Sea campaign in Cork tomorrow night (Thursday the 7th of June). Local band Los Langeros are headlining the show which will go from 8pm until close upstairs in the Spailpin Fanach on South Main Street. Local improv group Snatch will also appear and other surprise acts as well as a speaker from the campaign. Please pass it on and come out and support - the cost is €6 for unwaged and €10 for waged. Thanks - hope to see ye there :)
... just a few hours after being arrested, processed, photographed and charged. Prisoners were allowed snacks and newspapers brought in by their supporters as well as consultation with their 'legal support' or to put it another way ... a visit from a friend.
Undaunted ...
... and in fine form.
what i dont understand, is how all the protestors dont understand that it is too late to change anything...the work has been ongoing for quite a while and they are not going to stop just for protestors....in the end the gas will come through rossport..no matter what they do..if they wanted to change anthing they should have started years ago when the plan was just developing..
I just want to add my thanks to the gentle, professional firemen . The Gardai forcefully removed the support people looking after water and sun screen, removed the qualified first aiders and the mats under the protesters bodies. It was only when the Fire crew arrived on the scene that the protesters were looked after. The fireman told the Gardai to replace the mats and continually asked the people if they were ok, offering them water and shade from the midday sun. Thanks, your support was incredible.
Well done you country-folk ! A brave and effective peaceful protest - apart from some of the usual malpractice of the gards - they have been getting away with using unnecessary force and violence for too long. Ordinary people excersising their right to protest peacefully also have a right to be arrested if deemed to be breaking the law. These are decent people of Ireland and deserve respect by the government and by the multinational companies who want to make their shareholders rich from Irish resources. Those of us who support this view realise that it has been Bertie Ahern's policy to encourage the gards to use violent and abusive tactics in an effort to frighten off the protestors, rather than simply arresting any that are deemed to have broken the law. The message now is that we will insist upon our rights to protest - and our rights to be arrested, not beaten by thugs.
Also well done to the medics and firemen who should never have been needed if the gards were properly trained, but acted with respect and efficiency.
Hope to join in a similarly sophisticated peaceful protest quite soon. Keep up the good work.
I'm a Dub in the fire brigade here. the rural stations are run mainly by volunteers and the likes, the lads do a lot of work though. I'm glad to hear the nice feedback from the S2S protesters, personally- as a unionised worker- I feel full solidarity with those involved.
Let's not buy into the shell/govt. spin that this is a local issue. It isn't.
-Pollution risks.
-Explosion risks
-Loss of tourism and fishery jobs.
-C.A.Os./C.P.Os. given to private corporations.
-Imprisonment of objectors.
-Resources giveaway.
-State-sponsored violence
-Corruption at National and Local levels
It will concern everyone for years to come.
well done all! nice PEACEFULL action.
This is the second lock-on that i know of in Ireland and it seems to have gone much better than the first one (outside the Dail).
The fire brigade did great by all accounts, well done to them too!
More pleasant than putting out a gas explosion?
As for the Garda, they will learn fast and it may not be a pleasant experience for the demonstrators .
it is true that in the UK the cops deal with lock ons, but they have specially trained cutting teams and well over 25 years experience of lock-on's (they are not always gentle about it either.).
Didn't the Greens chain themselves to the trees in O'Connell Street a few years ago? And Sinn Féin are forever locking themselves to the Israeli embassy. I'm sure I saw the Craggy Island Two chained to railings outside the cinema as well, but that was just fiction.
A Lock On and chaining yourself to something are generally taken as being different. Chaining yourself to something is generally symbolic as a chain can be easily cut through. To deal with a lock on requires either more time and sophisticated cutting equipment or physical violence. For example if the people in Shrahmore had chained themselves to the gate it would have required what 20 minutes to get a bolt cutters to cut through the chain and end the action.
to all those at rossport who have kept their determination, strength and dignity whilst faced with such outrageous state-sponsored brutality.
good luck&good struggle x
Congratulations to the action crew on hitting "the enemy" and exposing "McDowle's Black and Tans" for what they are - a bunch of thugs, human right abusers and incompetents. The message continues $HELL to HELL, out of Connaught, out of Ireland. Thanks to the Fire Crews for their skill inreleasing the protesters uninjured. While the "tossing" of the on-scene medical support is reminicent the treatment meated out by facists and neo-nazi state forces world wide. We will not be cowed by such antics.
McDOWEL has been stopped dead!!!, Now lets take out Bertie and Enda
STOP $HELL, and KICK THEM OUT.
$HELL TO THE SEA == TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ATLANTIC TRENCH
NO TO $HELL
NO REFINERY ,
NO PIPELINE ,
NO TOXIC GAS,
NO to $hell's Black and Tans,
NO to POLLUTION
NO TO ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION
.
................................................. REVOLT NOW!
Nice action...
On the hystoric front I'm sure there's been stacks of previous lock on actions in Ireland...
report on one at Shell in Belfast 2003 here
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=38587&s...rt=40
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/38891
why focus on rossport thats why it was chosen - the ideal location for the pipe line - a tiny population with minimum resistance - its a national issue - its our gas - our environment - i'm from cork - i voted with the corrib project as a first priority - its all the more reason we should support shell to sea - the more people involved the greater chance of resolving this mess in the interest of the state - not a hand full of corrupt T.D's and business men!
anybody have info on the happenings at belmullet court house today?
In answer to 'today's's question about what happened at court yesterday (13th June), all five Srahmore lock-on protestors appeared in court, and the case was adjourned until 11th July, when it will be heard in full.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their words and actions of support. We couldn't have carried out our protest without knowing that there was a great deal of support from the local community and much wider. This protest is in support and with great admiration for the people of Erris who have been fighting Shell in every way they can for seven years or so. Their spirit is high, they know they are right, and they will prevail. It is an honour and a privilige to play a small part of this campaign, and I hope that many more people will be inspired to support them as well, in what ever way they can.
Standing idly by in Erris is not an option for people as the past 5 years have proven. Direct action is the only way there is any possbilty in stopping the Shell/government juggernaut.
kildare supports you,and its a pleasure,god is with you all
Please come to visit Mayo, talk to locals, visit the Solidarity Camp. Shell cannot be allowed to continue their environmental & human rights abuses here.
"Please come to visit Mayo, talk to locals,"
chrissie, I totally agree with you, come to mayo and speak with the locals, but come wearing casual clothing, shaved and looking like a "normal" average person.
then ask locals what they think of the corib project, I wager you will be surprised by the reply you get!
Go on try it and see.
"..come wearing casual clothing, shaved and looking like a "normal" average person.
then ask locals what they think of the corib project"
Sounds like a recipe for a plainclothes. But the guards already know what locals think of the project. And the way they assist it.
"Shell admitted it had helped supply weapons that had been used against the Ogoni"
CL don't delude yourself. You are supporting the worst kind of monsters.
Read this link and tell yourself otherwise.
It takes more than a shave and suit to cover up some stinks.
Jack I am not supporting Shell, I am simply pointing out a fact.
to be honest I don't care if "Shell admitted it had helped supply weapons that had been used against the Ogoni"
the Irish government are allowing the US use of Shannon , which is much more serious (I oppose that), but this world is dog eat dog and we have to do the best we can with the hand we were dealt.
You never seen me to be a mouth piece for Shell, my only purpose for posting is to highlight the mis-info of the S2S campaign, I don't blame Shell Ireland for what happened in Nigeria, but I wouldn't trust them to be sincere.
"I don't blame Shell Ireland for what happened in Nigeria"
They are all the one. Shell is single entity with a single set of shareholders and a single management.
They should know all about what happened, since some people employed by Shell in Ireland to work on confusing the locals were in Nigeria when Saro Wiwa was murdered.
Don't be confused. Shell Ireland and Shell are the the same company, with the same ethos, the same profits-driven lack of morality.
They were happy to see five Mayo spend a summer in high security prison because they said there was no other route for their high pressure pipeline. Now they say there are eight other possible routes, and the pipeline pressure doesn't have to be so high.
Three months in prison can't be given back.
Or is that Shell to Sea "misinformation"?
No Three months in prison can't be given back, but I am not going to debate that fact here.
My point is that what happened in Nigeria is almost irrelevant to mayo, S2S have generally lost this campaign because their strategy was seriously flawed.
I have no doubt that if the S2S group ran their campaign in a manner which would have retained public support after the men were released, this refinery would not be built at bellanaboy.
but S2S or at least a section of them shot themselves in the foot by actions which lost them the support of the vast majority of the general public.
The leadership(if any) of S2S has to accept responsibility for that fact.
'but S2S or at least a section of them shot themselves in the foot '
Actually CL, that man wasn't shot in the foot, he was kicked in the knee, kicked in the head
almost killed and put on crutches for months by the representatives of this great little state.
He is just one of many injured. I'm sure they all appreciate your wisdom about running a campaign correctly.
"They told Mr McGrath they were going to place the portacabin down by the pier on what is his land, accessing through a private roadway. No prior contact had been made with the landowners about this. It was put to Mr McGrath as a statement rather than a request and when he asked who wanted it installed and why he received no answer."
http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1454
The very worrying aspect of this is that it seems as if the gardai were taking instruction directly from a third party (Shell/RPS) and were not acting in an unbiased manner, which is their sworn duty.
"accessing through a private roadway."
Then we wait for the court case where that will be proved!
has McGrath issued proceedings against shell?/
No! because he knows when Mayo coco took control of the pier they also got a right of way to the pier, a pier isnt much good if you cant reach it!
You sure are missing the point. - deliberately?
Shell removed the security cabin after threats of legal action. The landowner has been admitted to hospital with a stroke. His family are blaming his condition on the overbearing attention he felt he was getting from the Gardaí.
The Irish Times
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
In short
More news in brief.
Mayo family claims Shell stress
The family of a Co Mayo publican admitted to hospital at the weekend with a suspected stroke claims he has been under severe stress since Shell E&P Ireland placed a Portakabin near Pollathomas Pier earlier this month.
Paddy McGrath is being treated at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar. He claims ownership of an access road to and land at the north Mayo harbour where the temporary structure was erected.
The Portakabin, which led to a confrontation between protesters and gardaí resulting in a number of injuries last week, had disappeared on Saturday morning.
A spokesperson for Shell said yesterday it had removed the Portakabin.
The spokesperson maintained, however, that the company had every right to place the hut near the pier as it had been confirmed by Mayo County Council that there was a public right of way attached to the access road and the land and pier.
Mr McGrath, however, claimed Shell had trespassed on his property. Mr McGrath threatened legal action to have the structure removed.
Members of his family have told the media that he has been upset by the latest developments, particularly following visits on separate occasions by up to six gardaí to his house.
Gardaí denied there was any pressure or intimidation involved.
"10. There is evidence from videos of youth, women and the elderly being pushed and beaten by Gardai without provocation. Even high ranking officers were personally involved in beating up protestors.
11. Emergency response and medical treatment to injured protestors was denied and delayed by Gardai without justification.
Is this a damning report or what?
Let's see how many media outlets will censor this.
Read the rest-
http://www.gcmonitor.org/article.php?id=598
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