Shell work halted 3 days in a row

mayo | environment | news report

Saturday March 10, 2012 21:32

by j debender - Rossport Solidarity Camp

A field in Aughoose, between Bellanaboy and Pullathomas

085.114.1170

Protests continue despite recent heavy sentencing! Lock-on Thursday, lorry climbing Friday, and hungover Gardaí Saturday

Friday 9th March, two people walked up to Shell's compound and began stopping vehicles going in. As several trucks slowed down one person seized the moment to climb on top of a Barretts' quarry truck, blocking the road outside Shell's tunneling compound in Aughoose. She stayed on top of the lorry for about 2 hours, then got down without being arrested.

On top of the Barrett's lorry

After Thursday's successful roadblock (http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101496), Gardaí were not happy to have another protest to deal with Friday afternoon. Friday night was the retirement party of 'rape tape' ex-Sergeant James Gill, which most of the Belmullet guards would be attending. The last thing the protest removal team wanted was to have to get out their cherry-picker to remove someone from a lorry before their big night out. Consequently the lorry-climber was basically left to it. With work finishing up at Shell's compound they bounced down and sauntered away.

Presumably Gill's retirement party is also why Shell is not working today. Most Saturdays for the past while they have been working in the Aughoose and Glengad tunneling compounds, however with most of the Belmullet guards out of commission today it seems Shell can't work. Without their friends in uniform to protect their work, they can't get much done in an area that has no local consent.

On Friday night a protest was held outside the entrance to Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet where Sgt Gill's retirement party was being held (see article here: http://shelltosea.com/content/news-release-rape-tape-se...-sour for why the local community are disgusted with him). About two dozen protestors, almost all local Erris residents were in attendance. The Gardaí on duty (the same who had been at the truck occupation) reacted pretty viciously, denying people their right to peacefully protest holding signs and banners in a public place. The Gardaí threatened to baton people, and smashed and stole their signs and banners. Martin McDonnell of Glenamoy was arrested for allegedly calling a guard a 'bollox' and charged with Section 6 of the Public Order Act. Things got pretty heated after this and only strengthened people's resolve. For the next three hours everyone going in was informed loudly just why anyone attending Gill's dinner should be ashamed. One person entered the hotel and had words with Gill himself. Towards the end many of those there walked up to the front of the hotel, taking the message straight to the Gardaí who have been in charge of the occupation of their community for the last 10 years.

It's been an eventful few days, and the protests are continuous. Come and visit the area anytime, or come up for the next Day of Solidarity which is Friday March 30th.

There are also some upcoming fundraisers for the Rossport Solidarity Camp:
Sunday 18 March (Bank holiday weekend) in McGuire's Pub, Pullathomas, Co. Mayo
Thursday 29 March in The Pavilion, Cork - http://shelltosea.com/content/cork-rebels-against-pipel...march
Saturday 7 April in Fibber Magees, Dublin - http://shelltosea.com/content/dublin-rossport-solidarit...agees