Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled

by Róisíin Mon Apr 27, 2009 14:45

"God, that's awful, that campaign has been taken over by dissident republicans... It used to be a genuine campaign."

I agree with you Kate -- 100s of 1000s of people will now be believing this verbal rubbish; and, far worse, acting on it way into the future perhaps in a whole array of ways which are socially destructive.

For me though, I find it very difficult to know how best to deal with this -- which I see as a massive social problem.

Personally, I think it might be better to try and use the Internet to counteract the lies in question -- by emailing friends, relatives, like-minded people in other Internet groups and so on, and telling them about "threads" of this kind (for example): which I believe provide a much less blinkered and much less deceitful view of the situation than the mainstream media at present does, or is ever likely to do.

I have noticed that a part of Phyllis Schlafly's report (referred to on this thread at Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:55) contains the follow sentence:

"He (Dr Carroll Quigley) says the 'network' already has such power and influence that it is now too late for the little people to turn back the tide."

Unless the "little people" somehow learn how to side-step and get around the Jim Cusack's of this world, so that he and his kind become an irrelevance to society (as soon as possible!!), I can't see much hope of society overall ever "turning the tide back" myself: which is very, very scary for me.

Personally, I think emailing Jim Cusack (and his kind) will probably do little more than have them all laughing into their beer, wine, or whatever?

A final point: I strongly suspect that the very useful Lisbon Treaty election result we got last year in the Republic of Ireland might (?) in large part be thanks to the way that Internet communications may have seriously undermined the sick-and-tired pack of one-sided-lies being churned out by the crotchety old "main stream media". I like to keep in mind that the Internet is still very young, and that it still has huge development potential for communicating the truth, as opposed to all the sickening clouds of recycled falsehoods coming from "yesterday's men (and women)" in the MSM.

by LP Mon Apr 27, 2009 14:23

Friday's Indo article said the guards said it was local people; Sunday's has them switch to "dissident republicans" without missing a beat. How do professional journalists eat this shit and keep smiling? It must be a rare comfort for senior Gardaí bricking it after a long line of PR cock-ups.

by Kate Mon Apr 27, 2009 13:08

"Running scared"?

I don't want to be gloomy, but let's be realistic. Jim Cusack doesn't look to me like he's running scared. He has freedom to do what he likes. He writes an article which consists of nonsense material fed to him by his garda contacts/friends and Shell's PR team. 100s of 1000s of people people read the Sunday Independent. A lot of them believe what they read. Readers will shake their heads and say, "God, that's awful, that campaign has been taken over by dissident republicans... It used to be a genuine campaign."

Instead of just commenting to like-minded people in this in-group, we need to do whatever we can to expose the laziness and lying of journalists like Jim Cusack. They do this stuff because they can get away with it. Because they are not held to account. They are rarely publicly criticised over this kind of thing.

One could start by emailing Cusack and politely pointing out that there is no evidence that "dissident republicans" were behind the "attack" on the site; that Shell to Sea locally has admitted removing the fencing which it regards as illegal; and pointing out the rest of the untruths in his article.

I don't have Jim Cusack's email address, but you can mark it for his attention and send it to :
info@independent.ie

Also...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
sunday.letters@unison.independent.ie
Name, address and telelphone must be supplied.

Irish Independent letters:
independent.letters@independent.ie

(Friday's Irish Independent also had a nonsense article about an "armed gang" at the site).

Other than that, write to politicians you may have contact with, or people in bodies such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Press Ombudsman.... OK, I don't have time to dig out any more contacts now.

by Seamuseen Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:55

I'd nearly say Jim 'hat-trick' Cusack (and his boss Sir Anthony O'Reilly) are getting very worried, and feeling desperately in need of falsifying events to protect their own interests: which in the case of Sir Anthony (and his bankers) are potentially extremely large.

Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Oil Interests, Chuck Feeney, Bertie Ahern:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Sir+Anthony+O%27Re...earch

"Dr. Quigley admits that nothing panics the international Establishment like the possibility of a threatened exposure."

"He (Dr. Quigley) urges us not to fight the noose which is already around our necks, because if we do we will only choke ourselves to death."

The two comments immediately above are from Phyllis Schlafly (Constitutional Attorney), and they have been copied from: http://radiobergen.org/powergame/tragedy.html

The Phyllis Schlafly Report:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=The+Phyllis+Schlaf...earch

by JM Mon Apr 27, 2009 01:10

As an antidote to the SINDO nonsense, this weeks Phoenix magazine probably gets to the real gangsters behind the latest Corrib mess - "Integrated Risk Management" - thugs for hire in bed with Shell and Fianna Fail.

APRIL 24, 2009
THE PHOENIX

MICHAEL DWYER'S SECURITY CONTACTS

VISITORS this week to the website of the security firm where alleged mercenary Michael Dwyer had previously worked - Integrated Risk Management (IRM) - were met with the notice that "our website is being updated at the moment. Please come back soon." However, Goldhawk noticed some subtle changes to the website after the initial update.

The shooting dead of Dwyer by police in Bolivia last week generated huge interest in the media with The Irish Times leading the way, complete with large photograph of Dwyer in army fatigues (which he had worn while engaged in "combat adventure sports"). One name that popped up subsequently was that of IRM, where Dwyer had worked until last year, a few months before he first headed to Bolivia for what he told his family was a three-month training course linked to his work in the security industry. However, by that time he is said to have ceased working for IRM and is said to have paid for his own flight to Bolivia.

IRM was set up by Jim Farrell, a former Regimental Sergeant Major with the Irish Army Ranger Wing, "specialising in anti-terrorist intervention", who owns 35% of the company, with chief executive Terry Downes (formerly of TNT) holding the balance. The operating company behind IRM is Business Mobile Security Services Ltd, which has not been profitable recently. 2007 showed a loss of over €170,000. although the bottom line may have been boosted by IRM's contract to provide security to the Shell compound in Co Mayo. Coincidentally, last summer Bolivian president Evo Morales nationalised the country's main gas pipeline company, which had been controlled by Shell.

Anyone who happened across the IRM website up to the start of this week would have been informed of the companies various "customised security solutions", and something called "special services". These included "international armed and unarmed security". Coincidentally. no sooner had The Irish Times referred to Dwyer's work for IRM than the security company's website was taken offline to be "updated'" and the references to "special services" and "international armed and unarmed security" were removed before access to the site was again prohibited. Goldhawk was anxious to get details of this "international armed and unarmed" activity from IRM but the company failed to return his call.

IRM has been used by Fianna Fail for its ard fheiseanna over the last few years and clearly the company has good connections in establishment circles, security and political. But IRM has also been involved in the security for Shell's operations in Mayo and has provoked a rash of complaints from Shell-to-Sea protesters and locals for alleged non-compliance with regulations of the Private Security Authority (PSA).

Individual security personnel are obliged to wear identifying numbers and John Monaghan, a spokesperson for the locally based and moderate Pobal Chill Chomain, has lodged several complaints with the gardai' about this and other matters. Monaghan says he has been assaulted twice by IRM employees and there have been other complaints about the company's heavy-handed activities surrounding the protests.

goldhawk@thephoenix.ie

by Lecanvey man Mon Apr 27, 2009 00:37

This guy is a thoroughly discredited journalist.

What concerns me is that it took hours upon hours of reading all posts (and linked pages, many of which needed translation) on this site and then on politics.ie to build a full picture of this story and its implications.

Meanwhile he can peddle his spin in the sindo and many will take it as gospel.

by Cliff Sun Apr 26, 2009 22:58

Those of you who fancy a good laugh you should read the article in today's Sun. Independent.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/republicans-to-....html
It shows there is a place for a Boys Own imagination in the mainstream press. Pity it lowers the average IQ at the paper by several points.
The 'journalist' is Jim 'hat-trick' Cusack. You've seen him here before - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81994
The neighbours also give him a page - http://www.politics.ie/sinn-fein/63475-jim-cusacks-idio....html

by Gayle Sun Apr 26, 2009 18:21

Old Codger (at Sun Apr 26, 2009 14:40):

Though I have little doubt that Fianna Fáil played the role of "leaders of the pack" when it came to slyly hiding all information relating to the anti-bullying Aarhus Convention Agreement from the public, large numbers of TDs and lawyers associated with our "opposition parties" (so called) also went along with this socially disastrous piece of deception.

If the full truth about the treasonous way this high quality international agreement has been handled by our "public servants" (so called) since 1998, which involves a major violation of Article 29.5.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann (Constitution of the Republic of Ireland), plus a bundle of consequential legislation which is unconstitutional and large enough to choke a horse, I would expect that a number of them would end up in jail.

For now though they're safe -- thanks to the way they can still commit even treasonous types of crime with impunity, and in spite of the fact that impunity has long since been outlawed by the United Nations -- for reasons which should be obvious to all.

Aarhus Letter to Bertie Ahern:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Aarhus+Letter+to+B...earch

by C. Guerin Sun Apr 26, 2009 14:54

Someone in the States told me that Maria Gunnoe, one of this year's Goldman prize winners, who has fought mountaintop removal mining, has faced similar problems (she hasn't been beaten up, but there have been threats, intimidation, she has security cameras around her home, etc). And the local media labels activists as "extremists" and implies that they'll use violence, etc.

It seems to me that the false story about the security guard being attacked was prepared in advance - there was no more mistake or coincidence about it than there was about the attack. The media must have known what they were doing as well. For one thing, what were their sources? And for another, they've been very willing to publish lies in the past.

by old codger - pensioner Sun Apr 26, 2009 14:40

I dont know if Gayle is aware of the governments deliberate avoidance of ratifying the United Nations Aarhus convention agreement. IT would not stop their crimes but it would give the public some legal redress against Fianna Fail and Shell

by Gayle Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:39

Regarding the growing and widening set of crimes connected with our very valuable and very important oil and gas eserves, which it seems are being perpetrated by people acting on behalf of our Government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial), it seems to me that we might all usefully give some thought to the subject of IMPUNITY, which many perhaps (?) do not appear to be aware of at the present time.

The United Nations has defined "Impunity" as follows:

"Impunity means the impossibility, de jure or de facto (i.e. in principle or in practice), of bringing the perpetrators of violations to account - whether in criminal, civil, administrative or disciplinary proceedings - since they are not subject to any inquiry that might lead to their being accused, arrested, tried and, if found guilty, sentenced to appropriate penalties, and to making reparations to their victims." (This excerpt has been taken from the following United Nations location: http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/impu/principles.html )

The trouble is of course, is that there appears to be nobody at the present time in the Republic of Ireland to enforce such principles, and that (it seems to me) is where we are all very badly stuck just now.

Consequently, the guards (police), the security guards (employed by Shell), the politicians and lawyers acting on behalf of local and central government, etcetera, can all break the law as much as they like when it comes to bullying and otherwise abusing peaceful protestors (who are abiding by the law) -- and the perpetrators of such abuse can all get away with any amount of such behaviour apparently.

There's not much "balance" in this particular brand of "justice", is there?

This is really a shocking state of affairs: and not least because there appears to be absolutely nothing of any real significance that anybody in the Republic of Ireland can do about this awful situation just now?

I sincerely hope that things relating to this core issue will change, and change soon, but I can't for the life of me see how?

Impunity (Republic of Ireland):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Impunity+%28Republ...earch

by But Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:36

Little miss sunshine stated,
"seeking retention for unauthorised works carried out in a cSAC has been outlawed. Seek Circular Letter PD 2 of 2007 "
Well here is Circular Letter PD 2 of 2007 http://www.npws.ie/en/media/Media,6683,en.pdf .
I see no reference that retention for unauthorised works carried out in a cSAC has been outlawed.
In fact it does not refer to cSAC at all, and remember glengad is a cSAC, and not a designated SAC. http://www.npws.ie/en/media/Media,3965,en.pdf
But that is besides the point, maybe miss sunshine will clarify for us?

by little miss sunshine Sun Apr 26, 2009 09:24

seeking retention for unauthorised works carried out in a cSAC has been outlawed. Seek Circular Letter PD 2 of 2007 issued by Department of Environment which was issued as a result of a European Court Judgement. It forbids at this moment the granting of retention where a development comes under the EIA Directive. Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

by Arm-a-Gedden Sun Apr 26, 2009 00:16

Its brains these brave people have which will always reign supreme over BRAWN.

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT - Corrib International Investigation Required

Pobal Chill Chomain, Pobal le Cheile, Rossport Solidarity Camp, Shell To Sea (Mayo).

Following a well-attended public meeting held in Kilcommon Parish in North Mayo last night, our groups agreed to make the following joint statement.

http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=2120

by But Sat Apr 25, 2009 21:55

Oh I assure you retention is still easily availed of, here is the form you fill

http://www.mayococo.ie/en/Planning/Forms/PDFFile,6770,e...n.pdf

Retention/Continuance
Where an application is for Retention of an unauthorised development then Retention must be stated in the public notice and the nature of the proposed use of the structure must be stated. Where an application is for the Continuance of Use, the nature of such use and of the previous use must be stated. There are different definitions of continuance and we recommend that you contact the planning office to ensure you understand all the details and implications. In general for Retention the fee is three times the fee for Full Planning Permission. For more information on fees visit the article on planning fees.

And to "sunshine" the link I provided in the earlier post brings you to the "up to date regulations" atttaching to Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 here it is again this time from the beginning!

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/act/pub/0028/sec...963s1

by Marie Sat Apr 25, 2009 20:54

July 4 2008 Irish Times report : European Court Ruling may force change in planning laws.

by sunshine Sat Apr 25, 2009 19:26

Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 has long since been amended, thanks for the info, now go and check the latest update and keep us informed

by old codger - pensioner Sat Apr 25, 2009 17:15

It seems obvious to me that this incident was planned between the Garda militia and irms mercenaries , with Shell and Fianna Fail claiming total innocence in the act.
Sooner or later somebody will be murdered by these traitors and of course they will all claim innocence.
The gardai are in a continuance of lies and deceit in this Fianna Fail crime against Irish citizens and should no longer be acknowleged as police men, they have become militia mercenaries and collude with private mercenaries.
They are also protected by a Fianna Fail judge and ombudsman preventing charges being braught against them.
This Evil will continue untill the Irish people do something to change uncontrolled power in this corrupt country.

by Eoghan - Galway S2S Sat Apr 25, 2009 15:12

Once again I am appauled, but not surprised by the actions of these thugs. One thing is for sure, Shell are loosing the battle, and loosing it badly, when they have to resort to full on beatings to push this dangerous project through. The Garda press office is a joke, they obviously havn't a clue what actualy happened that night and are relying on reports/statements from either Shell or the security company for their press releases. The media, adding to the stupidity, have taken the Garda statement as gospel truth. Lazy journalism at its most criminal. Is their no mainstream journailist left on this island (or elsewhere) with enough pride in their work to report truthfuly and honestly about a major national and international issue such as whats happening in Erris?

My sincere best wishes to Willie, his family and the other gallant people, residents and campers alike, who continue this struggle against this ILLEGAL project.
I wish you a speedy recovery and I hope to see you on the road soon.

Regards,

by But Sat Apr 25, 2009 14:53

If it turns out to be an unauthorised structure, dont panic that is not a problem!

Permission for retention of structures.

(1) Where, with respect to a structure which existed immediately before the appointed day and which is on the commencement of that day an unauthorised structure,—

( a ) application is made to the planning authority in accordance with permission regulations for permission for the retention of the structure, and
( b ) any requirements relating to the application of or made under such regulations are complied with,

the authority may decide to grant the permission subject to or without conditions or to refuse it; and in dealing with any such application the planning authority shall be restricted to considering the proper planning and development of the area of the authority (including the preservation and improvement of the amenities thereof), regard being had to the provisions of the development plan and the provisions of any special amenity area order relating to the said area.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/act/pub/0028/sec....html

by C - RSC Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:51

Shell state that they are carrying out the work in Glengad under Section 40 of the Gas Act from the Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Under Planning and Development Regulations 2001, Schedule 2 Part 1 of Exempted Development, Class 25 (c) it states:

in accordance with any requirements of the Minister for Public Enterprise or the Marine and Natural Resources, as the case may be under section 40 of the Gas Act, 1976, of development consisting of the construction of an underground pipeline for the transmission of gas (but not the construction or erection of any apparatus, equipment or other thing ancillary to such a pipeline save cathodic protection equipment and marker posts),

See http://www.mayococo.ie/en/Planning/Publications/Plannin...n.pdf

by H Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:44

Madam,

The Corrib Gas saga has seen some far-fetched claims by gardai and by Shell about the activities of protesters, but this week's installment reaches new levels of implausibility. Gardai say that 15 people in balaclavas, carrying iron bars and chains, broke into Shell's compound at Glengad, assaulted a security guard, started up a digger, caused extensive damage and then simply walked away. Tellingly, the gardai will not confirm whether they were present, because to do so would expose the glaring hole in their story. Either gardai witnessed the incident, in which case they would surely have arrested some of the perpetrators, or else they did not witness it, which leaves the question: how do they know what happened?

It is clear that the garda statement was designed to deflect media attention from a story that was very embarrassing for both Shell and the gardai: the vicious beating by masked members of Shell's security staff of Willie Corduff, a grandfather and winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, a man who earlier this month was involved in talks with two Government Ministers. It worked: by Thursday afternoon, more than 100 news websites across the world were running with variations on the headline, "Armed gang attack Shell site", all originating from an unverifiable claim by gardai.

Whether they like it or not, gardai have become players in this conflict, rather than neutral observers or arbiters. Their statements should be subjected to the same scrutiny as those of Shell or the protestors.

Yours etc.,

by kevin murphy - 32 csm Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:57

Its quite common that Shells hired mercenaries are themselves ex or off duty gardai so I wouldnt hold my breath on any assistance emanating from the very gardai who happily beat protestors in broad daylight . In fact it could very well have been the same people who clocked off earlier at 9 pm responsible for this act of thuggery and criminality . Gangsterism in fact ..
. Its also clear to see the state has been well and truly bought off here , that the state is pro shell , pro corruption and stands utterly opposed to the interests of the Irish people and the nations resource sovereignty . Its clear also the Irish media are well and truly in the same pockets and have not the slightest bit of interest in the welfare and interests of the Irish people . Irish society does not serve the interests of the people but other interests diametrically opposed to the interests of the Irish people . Its clear that Irish sovereignty has been well and truly trampled upon along with any notion of justice or propriety . We have a criminal entity of a state were gangsterism , thuggery and corruption thrive and prosperat the highest level over and above the interests of the people . And its clearly regarded by the states politicians , polic and media as the right and proper state of affairs . This makes them traitors to their country and their people .

Anyway best wishes to Mr Corduff and a speedy recovery from this ordeal

by lulu Fri Apr 24, 2009 22:02

Best wishes to Willie, Mary, & to all who are opposing Shell, the business that ruined & killed so many in Nigeria. Shell to Sea & their supporters are putting their bodies on the line for the land & the people. All the people are asking is that the gas be refined out at sea.

by James Kelly Fri Apr 24, 2009 20:24

Building with no planning permission and then seeking and obtaining "retention" was blown out of the water by the European Court of Justice about six-eight months ago. The case, I can't recall the title, concerned an Irish dispute, but the "retention'" argument , sustained here for years, got short shrift from the ECJ.

Fair play to you Miriam for pushing RTE to account for their dreadful distortions of facts. Maybe Norris could have them dragged in to a committee to account for thier actions?

You are also on the button; Shell must indeed be having a belly full of laughs at the craven displays by the government and it's agents in shreeding it's own laws, and ordering assault, battery and all manner of intimidation against Irish citizens, with a view to, in realpolitick terms, depopulating the area, to get it's ODOURLESS, high pressure gas pipe installed.

This, in the twisted view of the participants sets up a precedent for more of the same along the coast wherever our resources are tapped by big oil.

And the response from state media, the so called people's watchdog, is as bad as corporate media.

Long live the advertising of peoples media via websites on the streets, because state/corporate media will never publish the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

If they publish a retraction they will quickly revert to type before you can say the name of Bertie's Monkey 'Up every tree in North Dublin'.

by JM Fri Apr 24, 2009 18:38

It was just reported on MidWest Radio that An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland) has formally lodged a complaint to Mayo Couty Council regarding the Glengad compound.

They are of the opinion that the works are unauthorised and require planning permission, which Shell never got or even sought.

Mayo County Council have to respond within the statutory six-week period and then take action if appropriate. Unfortunately that's long enough for the compound to be built and maintained illegally, before seeking some sort of planning retention if required.

Still, it's a severe blow to Shell, Mayo County Council, and Ministers Eamon Ryan and Eamon O'Cuiv, who have all publicly defended the works as being legitimate.

by Peter Sutherland's Nemesis - - Fri Apr 24, 2009 16:01

Pic here of Willy Corduff in hospital on April 23, 2009.

Is this a fair chronology of events:

1. 9.00pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009 all Gardai leave the Glengad site.
(Can someone familiar with the facts on the ground there tell us whether this is normal or not?)

2. Around 11.00pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009 some group of people does property damage at Glengad site.
(Did any of the locals see men in balaclavas doing this? I've read everything on Indymedia, Shell To Sea site and in corporate media and cannot establish whether anyone saw this happen. Also, if it did happen can someone on the ground take photos of this supposed property damage and stick them up online please?)

3. Around 3.30am Thursday 22nd April 2009, a group of men with balaclavas and batons attacked and beat local eco campaigner Willy Corduff who had been under a Shell truck stopping Shell from progressing their "work".
======================

Ya Gotta Luv Da Guards Shitespeak:

Willy Corduff, quoted on Irish Times website at 13:18, Thursday, April 23, 2009, http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0423/....html said:

“I thought they were trying to kill me,” said Mr Corduff. “They beat me until I stopped moving. I heard one of them say, ‘Stop now lads, he’s nearly finished.”

While, Supt. Garda Michael Larkin of Belmullet, Co Mayo, said in Irish Times on Friday, April 24, 2009, [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0424/1....html]
Quote:
-He said a “well-known protester” had been escorted from the site early yesterday and was transferred to hospital as he was complaining of feeling “unwell”.=

“UNWELL” - please Larkin - are you really being paid enough to come out with shite like that?!

Pic of Willy Corduff in hostital - 23rd April 2009. Courtesy of Irish Times, Pic by Peter Wilcock.

by Miriam Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:31

Email contacts at the BBC to email complaints to:

http://www.medialens.org/contacts/#bbc

by Lemuel Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:23

The following site allows you to post a complaint in a Web form:
BBC News website feedback
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ifs/hi/newsid_4000000/n...7.stm
http://tinyurl.com/5k28j

Or write a letter:
BBC News website
Room 7540
BBC Television Centre
Wood Lane
London
W12 7RJ

No wonder the old media are in decline when even the Beeb's reporters so often exhibits such powerful bias against grassroots activists that they fail to grasp the possibility that Shell could be behind this kind of violence, fail to investigate and fail to report accurately on the facts as available to them.

Not the first time I've seen the Beeb demonstrate this kind of bias against activists - even to the point where the pictures betray the text.

by Biker Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:25

Connolly once described the media as "the prostitute pressmen - the hired liars of the enemy". It is certainly a description that fits RTÉ today.

Can someone set up an online petition calling on RTE to end its biased reporting? It would probably not make them change but if we can get thousands upon thousands of names to it, and threaten a tv licence boycott they might think twice. Or perhaps not....

by Lemuel Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:22

This kind of thing must be recognised as "corporate terrorism" - i.e. literally a corporation terrorising grassroots community activists.

I have heard that this is widespread in Columbia, where large corporations are said to employ their own paramilitary organisations to intimidate trade union members and the like.

Shell is making a big PR mistake if it permits this to go unpunished. Shell should sack the "security" contractors and go back to thinking long and hard about whether it wants any future in Ireland. Because this kind of cowardly, violent approach is a sure way to destroy a corporate PR image.

Sack them now, Shell! Report them to the Garda. And wash your hands of them.

by Miriam Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:13

Says what many are thinking - this looks like the work of agents provocateurs:

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/world/fury...ating

by CSI Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:11

Presumaby the garda technical examination will include taking impressions of footprints on the site, especially from where the attack on Willie happened.

by LC Fri Apr 24, 2009 09:50

So, having carried out one act of thuggery, and the police being alerted, the thugs returned later to carry out another?
AFAIK there is very limited access to the site. Were any checkpoints set up in the intervening period?
Or is a group of paramilitaries so common that the police will ignore it?
How can a group of up to 15 armed and masked men come and go at will... unless...

There must be some very red faces today.

by Miriam Fri Apr 24, 2009 09:15

Re Independent's coverage of the incidents in Mayo Wed/Thur

24 April 2009
For publication - and any reply you may send

Dear Frank

I hope you are well.

The Independent's coverage today of events in relation to the Corrib Gas dispute is quite frankly, outrageous. There can be no excuse for your reporters not having got the facts straight by the time of going to press last night - unless they consciously decided to make no effort to ascertain for themselves what had gone on on Wednesday night/Early Thursday morning. Had either of them spoken to the family of the brutally assaulted Willie Corduff or representatives of the peaceful Shell to Sea campaign they would have known that the version of events they have presented is largely a piece of fiction.
Willie Corduff was assaulted by approximately 10 masked and armed men at 3am on Thursday morning. He was beaten with chains and long batons until one of his attackers said 'Stop now lads, he's nearly finished'. His brother in law was also attacked at the same time but beaten less seriously. There were no armed, masked men at the Shell site at 11.30pm on Wednesday evening. No Shell staff were attacked by protestors. These are just a few of the facts that Tom Brady and Tom Shiel would have found out if they had done their research properly.

Will the Independent take steps to undo the damage it has done to the public record and to the true victims of all the thuggery in Mayo? Why does it routinely depict a peaceful community in protest at the very real dangers they face as being the opposite of what it really is?

Your reporters might find the following article and comments beneath it helpful:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92036

With best wishes
Miriam Cotton
MediaBite

by CL Fri Apr 24, 2009 08:57

On yesterdays (Thursday) last word on Today FM, John Monaghan of Pobal Chill Chomáin misled the Nation, when he claimed that both incidents at Glengad happened within a half hour of each other, and that Willie was alone when he was “attacked” by masked men.
He would have known that there was at least 3 hours between both, and that pete Lavelle was with Willie at the time.
He was well aware at the time that it was security that removed Willie from the compound, and he should also have known that the securities always video record such actions.
No doubt the Gardai will already have viewed that video footage, and the true story will soon be known.
Mr Monaghan can be heard if you follow the link below, at 25 min into clip. The Garda’s version is just before that.

http://www.radioireland.ie/lastword/2342009-16.wmv

by Visual S2S supporter Fri Apr 24, 2009 08:31

Perhaps if we could see photos of the injuries it would help in get word out.

by Miriam Fri Apr 24, 2009 07:38

Today's report by Lorna Siggins, Teresa O' Malley and Michael Parsons is some improvement on the Garda press release that was masquerading as journalism yesterday. However, once again it is carefully contextualised so as to ensure that it is the protestors who are portrayed as the instigators and not Shell or their bullies. 'Corrib protestors urged to stand back' runs the headline, as if it were they who were responsible for the thuggery.

Obvious inconsistencies with the report are that the Gardai, though they were not there at the time by their own admission, state that armed, masked men invaded the compound at 11.30 pm on Wednesday night and caused damage. They are unable to comment on 'specifics', however, when it comes to the same gang of armed, masked men mysteriously reappearing at 3am Thursday morning and bizarrely attacking Willie Corduff and his brother-in-law. Why did the gang injure a security guard during the earlier 'intrusion'?

Don't these thugs know which side they are on?

Shell was not available to comment on these stragne happenings in the night. Somebody invited the thugs in - and if it wasn't the Gardai and it wasn't the protestors, who would be a likely suspect?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0424/1....html

What is Eamon Ryan doing urging protestors to stand back? Is that not the same Eamon Ryan who, before his party sold out to Fianna Fail, was anxious to avail of any photo opportunity he could beside Shell to Sea protestors? Where is his condemnation of the vicious assault on Corduff?

The real villains of the piece are meanwhile well out of the spotlight: Shell Oil. They have made complete fools of us all. This whole situation is their doing, from start to finish. They must be entertained by the spectacle of us Irish people: the distress of Mayo residents; other Irish people who are willing to dress up in balaclavas and attack a defencless man in the middle of the night, the Irish police routinely assaulting and roughandling their fellow citizens, the Irish media's obscenely craven capitulation to Shell's interests; the Irish government's delinquent foolishness in giving away desperately needed resrouces and its willingness to use and abuse its own electors. They have offered to put an entire community of peaceful, hard-working people in danger and to needlessly destroy and pollute a pristine environment. And all for what? For no return whatsoever worth speaking of. A few transient jobs in exchange for billions of euro worth of oil and gas and a pittance in taxes - which may never even become due because of the ridiculous concessions gifted to the exploration companies. When you think of all that could be done for the country with an appropriate share of the revenue, this situation is appalling.

When will basic common sense begin to prevail here? When will our government set about restoring our dignity in this ludicrous situation? Renegotiate this ridiculous contract with Shell and its partners and have them locate their facility out at sea which is what they would be required to do elsewhere. They will still make vast profits even if it costs them more to do it the safe way and the right way. Denis Halliday is right: it doesn't seem as if our government has any ability to navigate this situation decently.

by Margaret Fri Apr 24, 2009 05:59

These thugs rent and live in apartments and houses in our small town and villages.
They should not be served in our pubs and shops .
Ostracise these mercenaries,they are killers in our midst.
Surely no one is that desperate for a few pieces of silver!!!
SHELL kills all over the WORLD.

by Ethel &Tom Corduff - London Shell to Sea Fri Apr 24, 2009 00:51

We have great admiration for Willie's bravery and for all those who tried to prevent the illegal fencing at Glengad. Looks like the attack on Willie was planned for maximum hurt to him with minimium witnesses . With few people around and his brother in law also attacked, in the dark, no garda observiing (deliberately) and no video footage.
The incredible story been spun of masked men in balacalvas causing great damage is clearly a set up by the Garda in collaboration with Shell with the manual work carried out by the infamous IRMS mercenaries.
Sadly it is like Hitler's Gestapo in action and answerable to nobody.

by James Kelly Thu Apr 23, 2009 22:34

Incomplete reports are misleading and therefore inaccurate.

Maybe RTE Director General should be asked to put it on the record if he stands over this as policy at RTE.

Perhaps D Norris could put such a question to him. The chances are he will give the rest of us SOP; Standard Operating Procedure of ignoring such questions.

What about the notion of picketing RTE or/and Newstalk for their biased and partial reporting. ?

Newstalk and 102 FM are in the same building in Digges Street , it is just around the corner from the Break for the Border club off Stephens Green, Dunnes Stores end.

It might also be an opportunity to hand out literature with (my perennial drum) the website addresses, especially mayogasinfo.com (for the uninformed and misinformed majority).

This news is shocking but it is, in my opinion, going to get worse until the Mount Everest of lies are countered through the medium of advertising peoples media.

Solidarity.

by Dabhog Thu Apr 23, 2009 22:06 torchboy at hotmail dot co dot uk Dabhog

Mainsteam journalism reaches new levels of disgrace this week

The BBC are reporting that it was a Shell security guard that was attacked and injured in the incident, attacked by 15 masked men apparently. Poor Willie probably doesn't even know he works for Shell.

A security guard has been injured after a gang of up to 15 armed and masked men attacked a Shell pipeline site in County Mayo.

It is understood boltcutters were used to gain access to the Glengad landfall site.

Irish police said the attackers used a company digger on the site and caused considerable damage to the compound.

One guard suffered an arm injury when he was struck by a steel pipe. No arrests have been made.

The gang had left by the time police arrived.

On Wednesday, a protester placed himself under a truck at the entrance to the site where security fencing was being erected.

The protest organisation Shell to Sea said that allegations protestors entered the site carrying weapns, or that any security personnel were harmed, are untrue.

Shell and its partners, Statoil and Marathon, are developing the offshore Corrib Gas Project.

Opponents claim the project threatens to destroy the environment of the coastline, and say Shell should fully refine the natural gas off-shore.

However, Shell and other experts say this would be more difficult and dangerous and instead, it is building a refinery five miles inland.

The protest over the project made international news in 2005 when five people - dubbed the "Rossport Five" - were jailed for breaking court orders by obstructing the companies from carrying out pipeline work on their land.

The Irish government backs the project, which it says is essential for the country's energy needs and has given generous tax concessions to petrochemical companies.

The whole thing is a disgrace. Once again the media has shamed itself...but then again I've come to expect nothing less from the BBC these days. These lies need to be stopped before they get out of hand. I'm waiting for a response from Auntie Beeb as to where they are getting their facts on this one.

I wish Willie a speedy recovery and everyone at Rossport all the best in the coming weeks. Don't let them away with this

by Keith Harris - newsmedianews Thu Apr 23, 2009 20:58 newsmedia at eircom dot net

"I am doing press spokespersn for Dublin Shell to Sea on this issue, and I have already been in contact with the Press Ombudsman office today and they say that the media are not technically doing anything wrong. "

As a former chief reporter who learned his job on the job in the UK; the media may not be doing anything technically wrong except contravening every journalistic ethic going.

The NUJ and Press ombudsman's office have both agreed with the NUJ's published Code of Conduct so make up your own minds where any honesty and loyalty might lie.

I have very, very few kind words left anymore regarding the mainstream media. In the main they simply sicken and disgust me.

Keith Harris
editor
newsmedianews.com

by Peter Fitzsimons - Republican Sinn Féin Thu Apr 23, 2009 20:47 peterfitzsimons2009 at hotmail dot com

It is a terrible atrosity for this kind of assault to happen anywhere in Ireland,but when it happens to a member of the public who is standing up to BIG WIG companys like shell it just goes to show you that there is no justice in the Free State.

Secondly it was coincidental that there was no Gardaí presence when this happened. Where did they go? We have seen in the past the large presence of the Gardaí in Mayo when there was protests being held against Shell,but when a man is attacked by there private security personnell the Gardaí are no where to be seen.

There needs to be a full inquiry into this matter,it is terrible for some people to suggest that this was a ploy by Shell to sea to gain media attention.

I send my best wishes to those who have been effected by the Brutish and Violent acts of the security staff in Mayo.

by MacE Thu Apr 23, 2009 20:30

According to the Garda press statement, Corduff was "removed" from the compound by members of the IRMS, so that's practically from the horse's mouth. Some IRMS men have attacked people around Glengad in the past. Some are trained killers. Answer your question?

by Fred Johnston Thu Apr 23, 2009 19:11

Willie CORDUFF, of course, and not Kilduff, as I incorrectly stated above.

by Fred Johnston Thu Apr 23, 2009 19:09

I have e-mailed and can't get a straight answer from anyone. The RTE news have been full of a story, backed by a superintendent, of masked men in balaclavas raiding the Shell facility and doing incredible damage with a bulldozer. Is this story true? There has been no mention in the straight media about Willie Kilduff. Not a word. So what is going on? Did the masked avengers belong to Shell - in which case the RTE story is a lie - or is there some other explanation? Answers, anyone?

by LP Thu Apr 23, 2009 19:05

It's rare to come across someone whose name matches their comment so well. I applaud your honesty.

by Kuntface Thu Apr 23, 2009 18:53

"Serious concerns as to the background of security personnel in Erris have been raised in the wake of the death of a former Shell security contract worker who worked in Glengad, Michael Dwyer, as part of an alleged plot to assassinate the Bolivian President, Evo Morales"

Jesus christ! we can do better than that cant we ? this type of comment Clutching at straws surely - the purpose of this article is that we cannot believe all we hear and yet the author seems to take the Bolivian government's veiw of this as Gospel.
hypocrisy or naivety

god help the poor people of rossport who would be just as well off without the mobs of political tourists lining up to take on shell .

This whole thing may be orchestrated to justify a violent backlash against shell which will inevetably happen.

by S2S Supporter Thu Apr 23, 2009 17:19

"I thought they were trying to kill me. They beat me until I stopped moving. I heard one of them say, 'Stop now lads, he's nearly finished.' " – Willie Corduff

Shell to Sea is appalled at the vicious and brutal attack that was made on Rossport 5 member Willie Corduff by Shell security force wearing balaclavas last night. Willie had been under that truck on the Glengad site for 16 hours, when at approximately 3:00am IRMS security wearing balaclavas moved in to forcibly remove him. Subsequently an ambulance was called and brought him to Castlebar Hospital, where he still remains. Today is the second anniversary of the day that Willie Corduff won the Goldman Environmental prize.

A local resident who was present that the time stated that he saw the masked security men push Willie to the ground and start kicking him and hitting him with large batons. They knelt on his head and twisted his arms behind his back as they beat him. His brother-in-law attempted to aid Willie but was pushed back repeatedly and forcibly removed by the masked Shell security into an adjacent field where he was then knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten.

Shell to Sea Spokesperson Terence Conway stated: “This was a vicious and cowardly attack by this group of balaclava-wearing Shell mercenaries in the middle of the night, on a brave member of our community, Willie Corduff, who was peacefully protesting the illegality of this project. The only violence that happened in Glengad last night was carried out by Shell security”

Serious concerns as to the background of security personnel in Erris have been raised in the wake of the death of a former Shell security contract worker who worked in Glengad, Michael Dwyer, as part of an alleged plot to assassinate the Bolivian President, Evo Morales.

Earlier last night at approximately 11:30pm, the fencing that Shell contractors had unlawfully put up that day was removed. During the day, the local community actively opposed the fencing work, as there is no planning permission for the work in Glengad.

Allegations that protestors entered Glengad site carrying iron bars and chains, or that any security personnel was harmed, are absolutely untrue.

Mr Conway continued, “It has become common practice to falsely accuse us of violence, in order to cover up the brutality that is inflicted upon us. This work in Glengad is totally illegal but all of our attempts to raise the illegality of these works have fallen on deaf Government ears. Repeated request to see the permissions for these works have been ignored.”

For verification and further comment contact:

Terence Conway - ****************
Maura Harrington - ****************

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Goldman Environmental Prize and Willie Corduff: http://www.goldmanprize.org/node/605
Related Link: http://www.shelltosea.com

Willie Corduff meets Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US Congress, at a luncheon on Capitol Hill, Washington DC on Thursday, April 26th, 2007. Four days earlier Corduff was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in San Francisco. (Pic: Stephen Mills, Sierra)

by Caoimhe - Dublin Shell to Sea Thu Apr 23, 2009 16:37

Michelle I promise you we are trying, but it is very difficult. The news reports are coming from the Garda Press Office and the media are not doing anything illegal themselves by reporting what an official Garda press statment says.

I am doing press spokespersn for Dublin Shell to Sea on this issue, and I have already been in contact with the Press Ombudsman office today and they say that the media are not technically doing anything wrong.

We have refuted these lies in both press releases and through ringing the press. However we cant force them to do anything.,

Please write letters to the press yourself to make your feelings and support known. the more backup we get the better!

by Michelle Thu Apr 23, 2009 15:48

Are you going to let the bastards away with saying that it was masked protestors who did the assaulting. thats what I heard onthe radio today and when I heard it I was shocked to think that the nobility of the protest to date had been compromised by terror tactics. Most people in the country at this time believe it was the protestors who carried out the thuggery. You must act to fix the record immediately. Go on the Radio and blow the whistle on those hired thugs and Shell the terrorist.