News Release: Eight due to appear in court over Corrib protests

national | crime and justice | press release Wednesday September 11, 2013 23:22 by ShellToSea

News release - Issued by Shell to Sea -Tues 10th Sept 2013

Eight campaigners are due to appear in Belmullet District Court this Wednesday (11th Sept) charged in relation to protesting against the Corrib Gas project.

Included among the eight campaigners are both Shell to Sea spokespersons Maura Harrington and Terence Conway along with Pobail Chill Chomáin spokesperson John Monaghan.

Also due to appear in court is Gerry Bourke, the farmer who provided the field for the Rossport Solidarity Camp for the last two years. [1]

Following the recent allegations by a former subcontractor for Shell, that they supplied bribes of alcohol to the Belmullet Garda station for 3 years, Human Rights group Afri stated that they believe "that there there are abuses of Garda power in Erris of ‘Donegal proportions’, as revealed in the Morris Tribunal, and that urgent, immediate and independent investigation is required." [2,3,4]

Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington stated "We no longer believe we can have equality before the law until such time as an independent, international panel/commission has investigated the policing of the Shell/Corrib project with specific reference to policies, practices, procedures, bribery, corruption and collusion."

Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway stated "Numerous campaigners have been jailed so far in the Corrib Gas fiasco, but as video evidence proves, the real criminals are Shell and numerous members of the Gardaí, acting with full approval of senior Garda management. It would be safe to say that the Garda actions in support of Shell, were well worth a few deliveries of booze to Belmullet Garda station".

ENDS

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Links

[1] Aughoose Farmer arrested for opposing Shell - Shell to Sea news release
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/news-release-aughoose...shell

[2] Abuses of Garda Power in Erris of Donegal proportions - Afri
http://www.afri.ie/news-and-events/abuses-of-garda-powe...ions/

[3] Strange tale of Shell's pipeline battle, the Garda and £30,000 worth of booze - Ed Vulliamy - The Observer
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/10/shell-pipe...-mayo

[4] Shell's contractor 'delivered three loads of booze to gardai' - Áine Ryan - The Sunday Times
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/shell-contractor-deli...ardai

The Shell to Sea Campaign has three main aims:

1) That any exploitation of the Corrib gas field be done in a safe way that will not expose the local community in Erris to unnecessary health, safety and environmental risks.
2) To renegotiate the terms of the Great Oil and Gas Giveaway, which sees Ireland’s 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent* off the West Coast go directly to the oil companies, with the Irish State retaining a 0% share, no energy security of supply and only 25% tax on profits against which all costs can be deducted.
3) To seek justice for the human rights abuses suffered by Shell to Sea campaigners due to their opposition to Shell’s proposed inland refinery.