27 Shell to Sea campaigners face court "special sitting"

mayo | environment | news report

Sunday March 21, 2010 15:11

by Rudiger

rossportsolidaritycamp at gmail dot com

Next week 27 people will face hearing in court in relation to protesting against the Shell's inland refinery and experimental pipeline. A week has been put aside in Belmullet District as a Shell to Sea "special sitting" but as Judge Devins said when putting some in some people for hearing dates, “no preduice can be seen because of its being put into the special sitting”.

Criminalising of community continues....

While the running order of the cases to be heard will be decided at the start of the week, here is a brief run-down on some of the cases.

First of all the cases of the 9 people who are currently barred from County Mayo will be heard. 7 of the 9, had been remanded in custody by Judge Mary Devins despite having no previous convictions. This remanding in custody had then been appealed to the high court, which released that 7 after they had spent 4 or 5 days in jail. On releasing the 3 males involved from Castlerea Prison, Judge Gepffrey Browne stated that the

'Objection to bail was a pure waste of time and money'. Some members of the 9 also had also to judicially review Judge Devins decision not to grant them legal aid and this is what has caused the delay. The cases relate back to the 28th June, and while some relate to lockons and a tripod others were just arrested for being on the public road at the wrong time.

Also up for hearing are 6 people who are charged with theft of the net which had been put up on the cliff at Glengad by Shell to stop the sand martins from nesting there. There is a related case of driving with no insurance for another person.

Also up for hearing is case involving 2 people who are charged with criminal damage to sheep wire fencing on the night that Willie Corduff was beaten up on the Shell site in Glengad.

Also up are 3 people charged blocking roads with their vehicles. One man is also charged with assault of Gardaí in Belmullet courthouse. One man is charged in relation to a tripod on Glengad beach.

Finally, 5 people are charged in relation to incidents around the Glengad site. There is some confusion regarding some of these cases as the initial charges were a common law breach of the peace charge which is being challenged in the high court. One person is now being charged with assault of a Gardaí.

The criminalisation of the people who have spent 10 years trying to highlight health, safety and environmental impacts of the project, along with the total giveaway of our oil & gas is continuing unabated.

At a community meeting last Friday, called to co-ordinate support for Pat O'Donnell while he's in jail, Ed Moran pointed out the hypocrisy of the recent resignation of Trevor Sargent.

Trevor Sargent resigned for making representations on behalf of a constituent involved in a criminal proceedings. Ed Moran stated that a far more serious intervention was made by Bob Hanna who is Chief Technical officer in Eamon Ryan's, Department of Energy. Bob Hanna sent a letter to An Bord Pleanala criticising them on the safety measures they are looking for on Shell's experimental pipeline.
Which is the more serious intervention?

Here are some previous quotes from Eamon Ryan giving out about Bertie interfering with the planning process.

"Anyone who examines from the outside the process that led to a decision being made on the appeal in this instance would agree that it was not conducted in an open and fair manner. ... I have serious concerns that the Government constantly took Shell's side, in effect, throughout this process. ... I contend that he [Taoiseach Bertie Ahern] put remarkable and untold pressure on An Bord Pleanála to accept the Government's will and to do the right thing in this case."
Eamon Ryan in the Dáil on the 24th Nov 2005

Eamon Ryan also said
“The recommendation that the pipeline should be built to a much stricter design code, suitable for a pipeline running through a suburban area, will surely mean that the whole pipeline design will have to be reviewed.”

Why now is his Department lobbying against An Bord Pleanala trying to put stricter safety measures in place?

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Comments (4 of 4)

Uodate from today's court cases

by G

Mon Mar 22, 2010 15:28

These are from the WSM twitter account, most recent updates first

maura harringtons case: charges dismissed section 9 obstructing traffic, great news

Court gone to lunch returning to Mauras case at 2.05pm

Maura Harrington up now on the same charges as the previous case

Paul not found guilty on section 8 public order charge of refusing to obey the order of a guard.

Paul not found guilty on section 8 public order charge of refusing to obey the order of a guard.

Paul found guilty of obstruction of the road on May 18th. No conviction but told to pay €200 to the local tidy towns committee.#s2s

Paul Lynch found guilty of wilful obstruction of the road on May 18th and told to pay €200 to the local tidy towns committee within 1 month

Paul lynch now up on a charge of obstructing the road in a car last may

See http://twitter.com/WSMIreland

Afternoon court report

by G - WSM - personal capacity

Mon Mar 22, 2010 18:45

Once more from WSM twitter account, most recent updates first

Nialls case will continue tomorrow along with James Mcbarren and Noel

Prosecution witnesss just finished, 5 guards, hearing resuming tomorrow at 10.30

#s2s evidence now being heard in case where Niall Harnett is accused of assaulting guards in belmullet courtroom last year

#s2s maura harringtons case: charges dismissed section 9 obstructing traffic, great news

http://twitter.com/WSMIreland

Thanks for updates

by Starstruck

Mon Mar 22, 2010 21:45

Great to keepup to date with the proceedings
So far so good it seems..
Good luck all tomorrow

Niall Harnett sentenced to 5 months in jail

Tue Mar 23, 2010 14:33

Reports coming in that another Shell to Sea campaigner has been given a prison sentence
Niall Harnett, a resident of the local area has been given a 5 month sentence for protesting against the project.
A futher disgraceful and sad twist in the ongoing struggle.
Solidarity to Niall and to his friends and family.
Shell to Sea!

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27 Shell to Sea campaigners face court "special sitting"

Comments (4 of 4)