Two Arrested After Shell to Sea Rooftop Banner Drop on Shell’s Belmullet HQ

mayo | environment | news report

Thursday September 18, 2008 00:23

by FSB! et al. - Rossport Solidarity Camp - Shell to Sea

Gardaí go back on their word – Maura Harrington’s hunger strike continues into ninth day

Shell to Sea paid a visit to Shell’s offices in Belmullet this afternoon and draped a banner from the roof saying ‘Solitaire Out Now’, and protested outside the office until after the workers inside went home. Two people were arrested just after they came down from the roof.

Maura Harrington’s hunger strike continued into its ninth day today. Her strike will end when Shell’s pipe-laying ship the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters, or she will die.

Banner dropped!

In a daring action this afternoon at about 4pm, three Shell to Sea activists dropped a banner from the rooftop of the Shell local offices in Belmullet reading ‘Solitaire Out Now’. The banner remained there for over an hour and a half, while shell to Sea supporters protested outside the front of the Shell offices. More banners were draped across the entrance area, and when the shell employees left work at 5:30 they were hailed with a chorus of boos from the assembled protestors. One Shell to Sea campaigner had his name taken by Gardaí for politely attempting to speak to prominent Shell apologist and former journalist Christy Loftus.
Two of the three Shell to Sea campaigners who had been on the roof were arrested when they descended to the ground. The Garda in charge of policing this protest, Insp. Martin Byrne went back on word he had given to the Shell to Sea protestors to the effect that the rooftop team would not be arrested if they gave their names and addresses. When the first person came down, he said he would wait until all three were down and then they would all give details together. This did not suit the Gardaí however, and they grabbed him forcibly and dragged him to a waiting Garda van. The second person down wasn’t even given a chance to give his details, and was also dragged to the Garda van. The Gardaí did not arrest the third rooftop team member, and did take identity details from him. The two arrestees were released quickly afterwards.
Outside the gates of the Shell landfall site compound in Glengad, Maura Harrington’s hunger strike entered its ninth day today. She remains in good spirits, but the strike is slowly exacting its toll. She remains in her car, under the glare of powerful arc lights and with a constant heavy presence of Gardaí nearby. The 24-hour protective vigil of Shell to Sea campaigners continues to watch over her. Maura’s hunger strike will end when the Shell pipe-laying ship the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters. The Solitaire remains at anchor in St. John’s Bay, Killybegs, Co. Donegal at the time of writing.

All banners up

Music outside Shell's HQ

Unite to fight the raw gas pipe!

Protesting crowd

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Comments (8 of 8)

More photos...

by FSB! - Rossport solidarity Camp - Shell to Sea

Thu Sep 18, 2008 00:32

Photo credits FSB! and Conor C.

Protestors outside Shell offices

Greg Burke filming, yet again!

Angry skull - from banner

Shell employee leaving

Getting his name taken

by FSB! - Rossport Solidarity Camp - Shell to Sea

Thu Sep 18, 2008 00:36

Photo credits as before.

Coming down from the roof

Arrested!

Being made to give details

"Oil and gas companies and governments supporting situations ... leading to repression" (AI)

by TD - Galway Shell to Sea

Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:31

Yesterday, at NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, Amnesty International secretary general Irene Khan besides reiterating her criticism of Ireland’s "alleged" (Irish Times) facilitation of rendition flights through Shannon avowed that climate change was also a human rights issue, in affecting the poorest and least vocal, as were the actions of resource companies, such as the oil and gas sector, in areas like the Niger Delta.

While she admitted she was not familiar with the situation involving protests over the Corrib gas project in north Mayo, there was nothing to be gained by oil and gas companies and governments supporting situations where demonstrations over environmental degradation and access to resources led to repression.

more arrests

by dublin supporter

Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:52

3 people were arrested in Dublin last night for allegedly painting slogans in support of Shell to Sea on walls in the city.

solitaire gone???

by krossie - wsm personal capacity

Thu Sep 18, 2008 14:31

Apparently newstalk are reporting taht the ship is off for British waters - can this be confirmed??

kp

Solitaire left Killybegs

by dunk

Thu Sep 18, 2008 15:11

reported here from Donegal this morning

Last evening I observed the Solitaire at anchor at Killybegs, up to 12:30am this morning, sodium lamps all ablaze, like another monoluminated Las Vegas on the shores of Donegal.
However, upon my rising, I looked to gaze upon it again, and she was there no longer.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/89047?comment_limit=0&c...36319

Is there govt or gardaí numbers that can be called for confirmation, given the life / death situation that this important info relates to. If there is no one picking up the phone at the other end, surely there is need for direct-er action to find an answer

RTE is reporting Solitaire going to uk for repairs today

by .

Thu Sep 18, 2008 15:35

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0918/shell.html

memory

by Chrissie

Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:50

There is a bookful of human rights abuses arising from the Corrib Gas/Rossport 5 struggle. Keep it all documented; where impunity is enjoyed by those in authority, memory is our right and solace.

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Two Arrested After Shell to Sea Rooftop Banner Drop on Shell’s Belmullet HQ

Comments (8 of 8)