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

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.

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.

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