Four Arrested as Shell to Sea Reclaim Glengad!

mayo | environment | news report

Saturday September 13, 2008 18:20

by FSB! et al. - Rossport Solidarity Camp

Maura Harrington’s son arrested as Shell’s Cops violently defend Shell’s unwanted compound

Today at 12 noon a group of determined local residents accompanied by Rossport Solidarity Campers asserted their right to walk the foreshore illegally enclosed by Shell into their compound in Glengad. An Garda Siochana once again showed who they really want to work for as they defended Shell’s ‘property’ with their customary zeal and thuggery. Four people were arrested during this action; the Gardaí were particularly rough with those arrested, and the four arrested were released at around 5pm. Maura Harrington’s hunger strike continues..

Just before the action

To show the continuing determination of the Shell to Sea campaign to halt this environmentally and economically destructive Corrib Gas Project, a group of local residents made the attempt to exercise their right to public access to the foreshore at Glengad, where Shell have illegally enclosed a section of the foreshore right down to below the low water mark. One of the many conditions attached to Shell’s operation at Glengad is that they allow the general public access to the entire foreshore. This is also one of the many conditions attached to their operating permission that they blithely ignore, as with so many other ones, and Shell’s Gardaí sure as (S)hell won’t even think of keeping them honest!

At the beginning of the action, the participants requested their rightful public access, which was of course refused by Shell’s insecurity headman. They were then informed that the people assembled did not accept the refusal of their right to public access, and that the group would take action to exercise that right. Then out came the fence dismantling tools.

Several sections of fence were cut loose from their foundations and pushed back to effect public access to all of Glengad. The immediate Garda response was to fill the fence breach with their bodies and grab anyone who sneaked past their line into the ‘compound’ for arrest. Four people were arrested during this period, and Gardaí were deliberately rough and violent to arrestees. Some of the ‘Garda arresting procedure’ was particularly harrowing to watch, as arrestees screamed in pain from being held in stress positions.

A stand-off on the beach between massed Gardaí and locals/Shell to Sea campaigners continued as this reporter left to file this report. Gardaí were also using violence to seize equipment and possessions off from people on the foreshore, allegedly as part of ‘gathering evidence’, grabbing banners and bags indiscriminately and with menace.

One of the arrestees is the son of Maura Harrington, who is continuing her hunger strike outside the gates of Shell’s Glengad compound. Gardaí treated him with particular venom, as part of an ongoing campaign of violence and harassment against all his family. Maura’s strike is now in its fifth day. Her health and spirits are still holding up, despite being surrounded 24 hours a day by hostile Gardaí and Shell security. Shell are refusing to confirm unambiguously that they do not intend to attempt pipe-laying works this year, or to unambiguously confirm the departure of the Solitaire from Irish territorial waters. A rotating local vigil is continuing to keep watch on her as her hunger strike continues.

Letting them know we intend to restore access

Reclaiming the beach - 1

Reclaiming the beach - 2

Taking action to ensure public access!

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Comments (15 of 15)

Pictures paint a thousand words!

by billy idle

Wed Oct 01, 2008 20:01

Only a bunch of gombeens would consider Glengad an appopriate area to indulge this aspect of Shells dodgy engineering. Sadly Eamonn Ryan has chosen to associate himself with the activities and aims of the two main gombeen parties in the state along with their intruments on state boards.

The Sea sends a message - get lost Shell!

by FSB! - Rossport Solidarity Camp - Shell to Sea

Wed Oct 01, 2008 19:00

Solidarity Campers checked out the state of Shell's fencing on Glengad beach this morning after the gales and lashing waves last night, and the sea had delivered a damning verdict on the Corrib Gas project. Sections of fence were strewn about (especially on the Camp side) after a good night's work by millions of cubic metres of seawater. The sea has also filled back the trench that had been dredged by Shell last month. Shell's workers had 'tidied up' the scene before we got a camera down there. If we don't make Shell refine at sea, then nature will drive them right out of here sooner or later.

'Restitution' - tippy-tappy make-work for Shell's minions

Gap in the fence on the dunes side

Shell's workers 'tidying up' nature's handiwork - good riddance to those fences!

The Sea - a lot done, more to do! Go ocean go!!

Great action...more solidarity!

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/ Ploughshares

Mon Sep 15, 2008 06:51

Great action and nonviolent discipline in the face of the usual high financed brutalisation.

The action keeps the initiative, as soon as we lose the initiative - we lose. There's growing expressions of solidarity with the nonviolent resistance taking place in Mayo around the country and internationally.

The more initiatives (however big or small...eg. personally I'd prefer a daily presence of 10 people at the GPO during peak hour where the public could touch base with the movement for info & involvement than a once a week demo of 70) in terms of nonviolent confrontations and expressions the better.

solidarity protest in lifford

by Seán - Ógra Shinn Féin

Sun Sep 14, 2008 22:11

Ógra Shinn Féin held a picket outside lifford garda station yesterday county donegal where we handed the gaurds a letter of protest outlining our disgust at the disgraceful actions of their colleagues in Mayo. All groups around the country opposed to this project should deliver similar letters to their local garda stations. The gaurds in every local area should be made aware of how we feel about the force being used as private security for shell.

Let them know they should be ashamed to wear the uniform.

Shell to hell!

Sickening

by Biker

Sun Sep 14, 2008 13:51

What a sickening display of thuggery from our so-called police force. Anyone who still wears that blue uniform should hang their heads in shame.

human rights

by anon

Sat Sep 13, 2008 22:21

I am stunned and sickened by the images of young Iollan being brutalised by Garda ,one Garda has a smile on his face !

PLEASE bring those responsible to the Court of human rights.The law here is clearly being badly abused .I brought a case myself before and won .And paid no legal fees .I was paid compensation of over 10 ,000 .

You have nothing to lose .

support

by sam simpson - sinn Féin

Sat Sep 13, 2008 20:29

samsimpson at utvinternet dot com

Congratulations to all those fine people standing up for the rights of our people and the protection of our environment.
We must resist this criminal venture by whatever means are ultimately neccessary.
I firmly believe we can and will win, but we must not be provoked and agent provocoteurs will become a problem if things escalate.
Any escalation of direct action which might become neccessary will only succeed with public support, and must be seen to be disciplined and morally justified.
Up to now we are winning on this front, and the proof is in the media blackout.
Keep the faith!

More photos from today - heroes and villains

by FSB! - Rossport Solidarity Camp

Sat Sep 13, 2008 20:04

Well, a heroine really, but all who stand up to Shell in this disgustingly unequal struggle are heroes too to a woman and man. I can assume everyone knows who the villains are, but what are their names and roles in this soup of corruption? Give us a hand by identifying this intruiging new baddie on the scene. Down here we believe he may be the head of Shell's insecurity company at the Glengad compound. He could also be a Shell executive of some stripe. What was also intriguing about this specimen was his easy familiarity with the cops and the degree to which they deferred to him. He might be an ex-er of some kind (ex-Garda, ex-army, or ex-spy if such a thing exists). If you have info on this sinister man be sure to let Shell to Sea know. Solid info on this guy appreciated.

She's not one bit afraid of them - and they don't like it!

This is a relatively new thug on the scene called Det. Hugh Egan. Doesn't he look a bit young and impressionable? He's fallen in with a bad crowd.

This is our new villain - only spotted 'round here in the last few days.

Our new villain again - S2S would appreciate info on him.

More photos - arrests and other photos

Sat Sep 13, 2008 19:42

More photos depicting the real face of official Ireland. Come and visit, but it's no holiday having your community terrorized by Shell's Gardaí!

Fourth arrest - again, who's doing the arresting?

A marriage made in (S)hell

Left behind. Some 'evidence' is just not important enough for Gardaí to assault people for.

Shell's Thugs Behind Bars!

43 arrests

by JM

Sat Sep 13, 2008 19:28

Since 22nd July there have been 43 arrests around Shell's landfall works in Glengad and Broadhaven... averaging almost one-a-day for a month and a half, yet no-one has been charged, many were not cautioned, no statements taken, or witnesses sought.

Whose cops....?

Gardai protecting Shell's interests?

well done

by mary and des w - london shell to sea

We're delighted to see you all there on "our beach". We would love to be there but we are playing our part here in london. love and strength to Maura.

More photos - arrests

Sat Sep 13, 2008 19:16

More Garda thuggery on behalf of the multinational sector!

after they've assaulted him, the Guards hold Iollan in a demeaning manner