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