Judge leaving court after mocking presumption of innocence

This evening (Monday June 29th), Judge Mary Devins jailed seven Shell to Sea protesters at a special sitting of Ballina District Court. The seven protesters were arrested yesterday along with two others who were released on bail. The four women and three men who were jailed were remanded to appear at court this Friday, 3 July at 10:30 in the morning. The four women's cases will next be held in Court 44 in the Four Courts, while the three men's cases will be held in Harristown. Of the nine arrested yesterday, five were arrested for a lock-on, one for a climbing a tripod, and thee others for walking across a road. A full report on the circumstances of these arrests is available here

None of the protesters had previous convictions, yet they were refused normal bail conditions. The prosecuting garda sought to have all of the protesters remanded and Judge Devins agreed with the guard in all but two of the cases. The Judge predictably sided with the prosecution's argument that the activists were likely to re-offend, and some of the protesters, with overseas addresses, may not turn up for court. To date all Shell to Sea activists have showed up to court.

Judge Devins denied and/or deferred decisions on activists' legal aid, although it was evident that some of the protesters are not able to afford legal representation. Judge Devins said, “Legal aid can no longer be dished out like Smarties.” The two who were not remanded had to undertake an order to stay out of Co. Mayo and “not return to this county until the next court case.” The two who were allowed to leave were forced to pay the court €100.

In making these decisions Judge Devins has again clearly shown her disdain and bias against Shell to Sea protesters. Sending people to jail whose first offence is to be arrested for not obeying the directions of a guard is ridiculous and unprecedented. People up and down this country are arrested for this charge every weekend and do not end up in jail, so why are Shell to Sea cases special? If Judge Devins is really interested in saving money for the country by refusing legal aid, why is she wasting public money sending protesters to jail on minor public order offences? It seems that Judge Devins has seen the massive state repression going on down in Erris, and decided to get in on the act.

If you would like to send well wishes to the 7 in prison, please post them to the camp or email them to rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
The camp address is Rossport Solidarity Camp, Glengad, Erris, Mayo.

Pat "The Chief" O'Donnell

At 2am on Thursday morning, Pat O'Donnell's boat the 'Iona Isle' was boarded by four masked men and sunk out at sea, near where Mr. O'Donnell lays his fishing pots off Erris, North Mayo. Mr. O'Donnell and crewman Martin McDonnell were attacked and held down by some of the men, while others went below deck, where they proceeded to sink the boat. Both local men have been taken to Castlebar General Hospital, where they are recovering.

Related Links from Indymedia.ie:
Massacre of Indigineous Amazonians in Peru - 25 dead and counting
The Pirates of Broadhaven Defeat Shell’s Armada
Prison van carrying Maura into Montjoy blockaded for 20 minutes by Dublin S2S
Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled
Scuffles At Mountjoy As Maura Harrington Is Jailed
Shell in Mayo from the Indymedia.ie Archives

Related Links outside of Indymedia.ie
The website of Shell-to-Sea - CorribSOS.com
Keep the pressure up: Contact ALL TDs, Senators, and MEPs in Ireland and let them know how you feel about Shell in Rossport - Contact.ie

Massacre of Indigineous Amazonians in Peru

Awajun, Wampis, mestizos y blancos unidos en defensa del territorio, luchando para derogatoria de los DS
Awajun, Wampis (native tribes), mestizos (mix of native and spanish blood) and whites united in defense of the land, Struggling to repeal the Court Orders

An ongoing, many month old peaceful protest in the Bagua region of the north western area of Peru was brutally attacked this week by state forces, resulting in the deaths of, at least, 25 native Indigenous Amazonian Peruvians. A motorway in the "curve of the devil" region had been blocked by local communities of the area who feel their land, health, livelihood and community is threatened by the government's giveaway of the area, and its precious resources, to multinational oil and gas exploration. They are perhaps right to feel sad, threatened and terrified, knowing how things have faired in neighbouring areas with a similar story, Sion, Equador and beyond... Perhaps even as far a field as Rossport.

Related Links: Racism, Violence and Neo Nazism: Politics as usual in Santa Cruz Bolivia | Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled | Shell on Trial in New York for the Murder of Ken Saro Wiwa | Shell on CorpWatch.org | A Timeline of Oil and Violence | DemocracyNow.org: "Peruvian Police Accused of Massacring Indigenous Protesters in Amazon Jungle"

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL FORCED TO SETTLE HUMAN RIGHTS CASE OUT OF COURT, pays $15 million

Shell: "Do you have no jobs to go to?"
Community: "This is our occupation!"

For the second time in three days a Shell dredger has been boarded and occupied by a Shell to Sea protester. As a result all the ships working in the bay have ceased work and returned to harbour. Reports confirm that work has been abandoned due to the action of the protesters!

Related Links from Indymedia.ie:
Shell Telly Bingo
Kila Delivers Anti-Shell Message
Prison van carrying Maura into Montjoy blockaded for 20 minutes by Dublin S2S
Tripod Action at Glengad United Community of Erris Remove Shell Nets.
Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled
Scuffles At Mountjoy As Maura Harrington Is Jailed
Shell in Mayo from the Indymedia.ie Archives

Related Links outside of Indymedia.ie
The website of Shell-to-Sea - CorribSOS.com
Keep the pressure up: Contact ALL TDs, Senators, and MEPs in Ireland and let them know how you feel about Shell in Rossport - Contact.ie

Truth? We Can't Handle the Truth!

Hi folks!
In the most hysterical hatchet-job to date on the campaign against Shell's discredited and disastrous inland refinery experiment in north Mayo, Sunday World crime-fighter Paul Williams turns shock jock as he presents a "documentary" about the Corrib Gas project on TV3 at 9pm on Tuesday, 2nd June. To accompany what is set to be an entertaining farce, we bring you a one-off Telly Bingo game so you can track whether any facts, relevant information or editorial balance creeps into the show.

The Boxes You'll Be Looking to Have Ticked:

* Pipeline Safety
* Trevor Sargent
* The Giveaway of Irish Gas and Oil
* Michael D. HIggins
* Opinion Polls
* Joe Higgins
* Kevin Moore's Verdict
* Colm Rapple
* Shell's Lawbreaking
* Rossport 5
* Minister Eamonn Ryan
* Local Organisations
* Denis Halliday
* Parish Priests
* Goldman Prize
* Michael McCaughan
* Shell on Trial in New York
* Project-Splitting
* Experts
* The Paul Williams Factor