Loitering with intent at Rossport Solidarity Camp : People's champion Margaretta D'Arcy investigates

mayo | rights and freedoms | news report Monday July 06, 2009 17:34 by TD - Shell to Sea

The bizarre and risible arrest for "Loitering at sea"

The footage for the first video, Shell to Sea : Loitering with intent near the Rossport Solidarity Camp, people's champion Margaretta D'Arcy investigates was shot on 29th June close to and at the rear of the Rossport Solidarity Camp, when the behemoth pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire, was laying the pipe connecting Shell's Glengad compound and the gas head and when the camp was overtly and intimidatory policed with Gardai at the front and rear sandwiching the Shell to Sea activists and it was the latter melange of Guards and their black attired Public Order cohorts that the redoubable and much loved Margaretta D'Arcy confronted.

The Solitaire

The second video concerns the previous evening's lock-on by Shell to Sea activists close to the entrance of Shell's Glengad compound in which five campaigners were arrested and the following evening's lamentable proceedings at a special sitting of Ballina District Court where Maura Harringto was assaulted by a Ban Garda and where, along with four other Shell to Sea activists - three spuriously arrested for walking across a public road whilst the fourth was arrested for perching atop a tripod - all were summarily dealt with by Judge Mary Devins, notorious for her hostility towards and draconian treatment of Shell to Sea stalwarts; seven were remanded in prison despite the relative minor nature of their alleged Public Order offences and the legal requirement of presumption of innocence and the remaining two, after being presented with the no brainer choice of going to prison or else getting out of Mayo by 12 midnight that night for effective Cromwellian banishment to the far end of the country in Cork City until the day of their trial opted for the latter - all this, following hard on the heels of the arrest of fisherman and Shell to Sea activist, Jonathan O'Donnell, on the bizarre and risible allegation for "Loitering at sea" whilst attending his lobster pots.

However, the High Court overturned Judge Devins's denial of bail to the women on July 1st and the following day to the three men in custody in Castlerea prison, Co Roscommon -all were banned from entering Co Mayo until their trial and a bond to keep the peace was also imposed.

Lock-on near entrance to Shell's Glengad compound

Two Irish Navy gunships guarding the Solitaire against the "threat" of Shell to Sea activists armed, as it were, with pea shooters, if that at all, toy plastic inflatables and kayaks

Shell to Sea : Loitering with intent near the Rossport Solidarity Camp, people's champion Margaretta D'Arcy investigates

Shell to Sea : Lock-on in lockdowned Rossport, activists locked up in Mountjoy, locked out of Mayo