Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

Mother of three from Sligo arrested over E.S.B. dispute

category sligo | environment | news report author Tuesday February 08, 2011 13:50author by Sharon Mullen

Pat & Sharon Mullen of Ballymote, Co. Sligo are in a dispute with the Electricity Supply Board, the E.S.B. want to put three 123 foot high electricity pylons on their land carrying 220,000 volt cables. Pat & Sharon are refusing E.S.B. staff entry to their land to install five overhead lines. On the grounds that they have the potential to have adverse effects on their health, their children and communities health and that of their livestock. Furthermore, they are concerned about the almost certain devaluation of four sites on their picturesque land by the erection of these massive 123 foothigh pylons and the subsequent impact on their children’s inheritance. They want the E.S.B. to place the power lines under ground. A simple request!

This dispute is in its 11th year for Sharon and Pat, and their three
children. Sharon was arrested Tuesday February 1st 2011 after she
asked the E.S.B. staff to vacate her land. Sharon says 'We are 100%
committed to this cause and fully prepared to be jailed'. Please help
support Sharon and Pat in their struggle to protect their families
health and well-being and preserve the natural environment of their
own farmland.

Sharon Mullen, family and friends are currently keeping a 24 hour
vigil on the land and have no intentions of surrendering to this
injustice. No amount of bullying, harassment or intimidation will lead
Sharon, Pat or their neighbours to put their children's health at
risk. We are well aware that this type of harassment is common
practice and would like to hear of your experiences for possible
future publications on the matter. Please contact us on the details
below.

In other E.U. countries the courts have ruled that the overhead power
lines infringe individual's human rights. This has led to dismantling
of pylons in Spain. Sharon and Pat have offered to dig the hole for
the lines to be buried they are not trying to prevent the supply going
through their land.

We don't inherit the Earth. We preserve it for our grandchildren.
DON'T LET THE ESB DESTROY IT!

BURY THE POWER LINES . . . NOT THE PEOPLE
Over 100 peer-reviewed papers excepted by the science community have
indicated EMF have an adverse effect on health. Please help support
Sharon & Pat Mullen in their struggle to protect their families health
and well-being and preserve the natural environment of their own
farmland. This dispute will not end until the power line is buried
under ground.

What can you do?
Sign the petition on
http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/23/people-against-py...lons/ and add
your comment of support.

Become a facebook friend
http://www.facebook.com/pages/People-Against-Pylons/149...=wall

Lobby your politicians and request a commitment from them, that they
will pursue a national policy that will bury these high voltage power
lines under ground and prevent it being a case of too little too late.

Follow us on twitter/facebook to stay informed of upcoming events:

www.twitter.com/notopylons

www.facebook.com/pages/People-Against-Pylons

Any further queries or comments please email us on peopleagainstpylons@gmail.com

Comments (4 of 4)

Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4
author by old codger - pensionerpublication date Tue Feb 08, 2011 15:53author address author phone

The SHell2 sea movement and the people of Rossport are in the same predicament namely that a corrupt government can issue permits for private companies and multinational theives to invade the property of Irish citizens with impunity.
A Major point that all parties are avoiding is that Ireland has for decades been under the the influence of a Mafia style system. The seeds have been sown in every facet of our system and will be very hard to remove. Even though Fianna Fail are not in office their appointees to state boards and institutions will still be running the show. Judges, top Gaurdai, RTE and the media Ombudsmen who are subject to veto by the minister for justice and the dpp Freedom of information have all been manipulated by a corrupt party.
MANY CRIMES INCLUDING TREASON HAVE BEEN COMMITED AND NOBODY IS PUNISHED FOR THEM .
Threfore accountability has to be top of the agenda for all political parties, because to continue with the same old policies will be meaningless.
If criminals are not punished they will continue to commit bigger and better crimes.
CORRIB GAS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF MAFIA STYLE MANIPULATION.
People are being abused while politicians are playing games and lining their own pockets
KEEP FIGHTING and try to link with other groups that are fighting injustice.

author by human - humanpublication date Wed Feb 09, 2011 01:12author address author phone

fight them all the way hold your heads high, a town near me the hell ESB egnored all health issues which was at the time every house had major cancer fights on there hands if you think about it they say mobiles are unoffically bad for your general health multiply it by 1000000000000000000000000 now there is a problem, sharon and pat stand your ground dont give in i saw your cause just now and i will spread the word as much as i can V YOUR NOT ON YOUR OWN

author by Ailispublication date Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:34author address author phone


IRELAND along with 43 countries signed up to the Aarhus Convention in 1998. IRELAND is
the only country who still has not ratified it.
Much is written about the Aarhus Covention but main principles would offer protection as a right to people who try to protect the environment.The subject of the convention goes to the heart of the relationship between people and governments,The convention is not only an environmental agreement ,it is also a convention about government accountability ,transparency and responsiveness and access to justice.IT is critical at this time to commit all politicians to ratifying The Aarhus Convention .NO MORE jailing or beatings or batoning our fine PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE.

author by tracywpublication date Sat Feb 19, 2011 23:41author address author phone

don't back down, and get everyone you know to help making posters writing letters etc. its an awful situation, and when the time make sure you have a video camera and that they know you do.
i'd look into putting the cables under ground too to be honest, i don't know but i wonder what affect that would have on the soil and underground water channels and natural energy lines. you could try to make them negotiate with you for it, not the other way round, while you looked into it in more detail, letting them know you are doing so. hopefully they haven't calculated that it'd be cheaper to bully one of your neighbours into letting pylons on their land instead if they have to give up on you but its most likely
sligo s not far from mayo, a visit to the solidarity camp and locals (someone from the camp will bring ye around to meet people) with a leaflet would be very beneficial for both campaigns


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