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| {{Mergeto|Corrib gas controversy|date=August 2009}}{{POV|date=August 2009}}{{Refimprove|date=April 2009}} | {{Mergeto|Corrib gas controversy|date=August 2009}}{{POV|date=August 2009}}{{Refimprove|date=April 2009}} | ||
| The ] of ], ] and ] has generated opposition from people who will be directly affected by it in ], as well as others from around ] and abroad. Protests and actions against the project has created a situation which has necessitated a large |
The ] of ], ] and ] has generated opposition from people who will be directly affected by it in ], as well as others from around ] and abroad. Protests and actions against the project has created a situation which has necessitated a large Garda presence at sites related to the project. Complaints from protesters arising from the policing of these protest have been made about the conduct of the ] to the ], none of which have been upheld. The Gardaís response to protests have drawn critiscism from some Irish politicians <ref>http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/?c=IRELAND&jp=cwidgbaukfau&d=2006-11-21 Breaking News - TDs criticise Garda response to 'Shell to Sea' protests</ref> | ||
| ] protester is removed by paramedics from Lennon's quarry, ] after an encounter with the ], November 2006]] | |||
| ==Bellanaboy== | ==Bellanaboy== | ||
| After the ] were jailed in the summer of 2005 for |
After the ] were jailed in the summer of 2005 for ] the ] campaign was formed, blockading the refinery site at Bellanaboy until October 2006, when Gardaí used force to remove protesters from in and around the sites. The protests made national TV news in Ireland as both protesters and Gardaí were injured in clashes <ref>http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2007/may/06/shell-corrib-gas-protesters-have-cost-gardai-over-/ Tribune </ref> as the Gardaí were accused of using excessive force. Gardaí were said to to have operated a "no arrest" policy. This was based on comments made by ] in charge of the operation, Joe Gannon in an interview in ''Garda Review'', in which he stated: "There were no arrests. That was part of our strategy; we did not want to facilitate anyone down there with a route to martyrdom." | ||
| ] remove |
] remove a man from a protest at the ] Shell site, August 2008]] | ||
| The |
The Garda operation succeeded in stopping the blockades from preventing work on the refinery site at Bellanaboy. Work there has continued with brief pauses occasioned by site occupations and ]s. At times, hundreds of Gardaí have been deployed to facilitate the project. In May 2007, the Gardai were thanked by Shell executives at their AGM in ] for their assistance. Superintendent Gannon was replaced by Superintendent John Gilligan (formerly of ]) in June 2007. | ||
| ] | |||
| Superintendent Gannon was replaced by Superintendent ] (formerly of ]) after a fracas involving scores of protesters facing off against scores of police and a digger machine in June 2007. Gannon was moved to ] Garda station in ]. | |||
| ===Garda reaction=== | ===Garda reaction=== | ||
| Line 22: | Line 16: | ||
| ==Glengad== | ==Glengad== | ||
| In July 2008, preparatory work for the raw gas pipeline began in ]. Under Gilligan's superintendency, the no-arrest policy |
In July 2008, preparatory work for the raw gas pipeline began in ]. Under Gilligan's superintendency, the no-arrest policy ceased to operate with over forty arrests made in the summer of 2008. The ] were brought in to provide assistance in dealing with protests on water. Local businessman and fisherman Pat O'Donnell accused the Gardai of selective policing, alleging that they made no answer to call for assistance in defending his ], ]s that were in the path of the pipe laying vessel, ]. Gardai arrested O'Donnell and his son twice in a 24 hour period from the sea on public order charges, but desisted when their solicitor requested they charge his clients or stop arresting them. | ||
| The ] were used to manage the actions of water |
The ] were used to manage the actions of water based protesters , who sought to disrupt the Shell works. Shell's survey boats in Srahwuddacon Bay in ] were accompanied at all times by several Gardaí in their own boat, when surveying feasible routes for the gas pipeline. In August and September 2008, members of the unit entered the sea to confront Shell to Sea members who had been carrying out a water based protest near the Shell compound of Glengad beach. <ref>http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0822/1219353251618.html | ||
| </ref>. | </ref>. | ||
| Superintendent Gilligan was replaced by Superintendent Mick Larkin in the autumn of 2008 |
Superintendent Gilligan was replaced by Superintendent Mick Larkin in the autumn of 2008 transferring to the Garda Press Office. | ||
| ] spokesman Niall Harnett is removed from Belmullet courthouse following an altercation with Gardaí, March 2009]]. | ] spokesman Niall Harnett is removed from Belmullet courthouse following an altercation with Gardaí, March 2009]]. | ||
| Line 33: | Line 27: | ||
| By September 2008, the cost of the operation was €10 Million and is estimated to have cost €13.5 Million by the end of January 2009 <ref></ref>. This is comparable to the €20 Million budgeted for Operation Anvil, the operation targeting ], criminal gangs and their associates <ref></ref>. | By September 2008, the cost of the operation was €10 Million and is estimated to have cost €13.5 Million by the end of January 2009 <ref></ref>. This is comparable to the €20 Million budgeted for Operation Anvil, the operation targeting ], criminal gangs and their associates <ref></ref>. | ||
| ⚫ | ==Charges & Convictions of Protesters== | ||
| ==Pobal Chill Chomáin== | |||
| ⚫ | Since the outbreak of protests there have been arrest of protesters, chiefly on public order offences. In March 2009, Shell to Sea protester ] was jailed for 28 days for assaulting a Garda during a protest and in August 2009 Harrington and Shell to Sea spokesman Niall Harnett were jailed for Public order Offences <ref>http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/corrib-protesters-jailed-420741.html Breaking News</ref> | ||
| In April 2008, some people involved in S2S left to form another anti-Shell group, ]. Although this group are seen as more moderate than S2S, they have also complained of police ]. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Convictions of |
||
| ⚫ | Since the outbreak of protests there have been |
||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 44: | Line 35: | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Policing Of The Corrib Gas Protests}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Policing Of The Corrib Gas Protests}} | ||
Revision as of 15:29, 18 August 2009
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Corrib gas controversy. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2009. |
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The Corrib gas project of Royal Dutch Shell, StatoilHydro and Marathon Oil has generated opposition from people who will be directly affected by it in Erris, as well as others from around Ireland and abroad. Protests and actions against the project has created a situation which has necessitated a large Garda presence at sites related to the project. Complaints from protesters arising from the policing of these protest have been made about the conduct of the Garda Síochána to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, none of which have been upheld. The Gardaís response to protests have drawn critiscism from some Irish politicians
Bellanaboy
After the Rossport Five were jailed in the summer of 2005 for contempt of court the Shell to Sea campaign was formed, blockading the refinery site at Bellanaboy until October 2006, when Gardaí used force to remove protesters from in and around the sites. The protests made national TV news in Ireland as both protesters and Gardaí were injured in clashes as the Gardaí were accused of using excessive force. Gardaí were said to to have operated a "no arrest" policy. This was based on comments made by Superintendent in charge of the operation, Joe Gannon in an interview in Garda Review, in which he stated: "There were no arrests. That was part of our strategy; we did not want to facilitate anyone down there with a route to martyrdom."
The Garda operation succeeded in stopping the blockades from preventing work on the refinery site at Bellanaboy. Work there has continued with brief pauses occasioned by site occupations and lock-ons. At times, hundreds of Gardaí have been deployed to facilitate the project. In May 2007, the Gardai were thanked by Shell executives at their AGM in The Hague for their assistance. Superintendent Gannon was replaced by Superintendent John Gilligan (formerly of Interpol) in June 2007.
Garda reaction
Many Gardaí expressed disquiet and concern at what they were being ordered to do at Bellanaboy, and some told journalists off the record that they were reconsidering their careers.
Glengad
In July 2008, preparatory work for the raw gas pipeline began in Glengad. Under Gilligan's superintendency, the no-arrest policy ceased to operate with over forty arrests made in the summer of 2008. The Irish Navy were brought in to provide assistance in dealing with protests on water. Local businessman and fisherman Pat O'Donnell accused the Gardai of selective policing, alleging that they made no answer to call for assistance in defending his private property, crab pots that were in the path of the pipe laying vessel, Solitaire. Gardai arrested O'Donnell and his son twice in a 24 hour period from the sea on public order charges, but desisted when their solicitor requested they charge his clients or stop arresting them.
The Garda Water Unit were used to manage the actions of water based protesters , who sought to disrupt the Shell works. Shell's survey boats in Srahwuddacon Bay in Erris were accompanied at all times by several Gardaí in their own boat, when surveying feasible routes for the gas pipeline. In August and September 2008, members of the unit entered the sea to confront Shell to Sea members who had been carrying out a water based protest near the Shell compound of Glengad beach. .
Superintendent Gilligan was replaced by Superintendent Mick Larkin in the autumn of 2008 transferring to the Garda Press Office.
.
By September 2008, the cost of the operation was €10 Million and is estimated to have cost €13.5 Million by the end of January 2009 . This is comparable to the €20 Million budgeted for Operation Anvil, the operation targeting organised crime, criminal gangs and their associates .
Charges & Convictions of Protesters
Since the outbreak of protests there have been arrest of protesters, chiefly on public order offences. In March 2009, Shell to Sea protester Maura Harrington was jailed for 28 days for assaulting a Garda during a protest and in August 2009 Harrington and Shell to Sea spokesman Niall Harnett were jailed for Public order Offences
References
- http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/?c=IRELAND&jp=cwidgbaukfau&d=2006-11-21 Breaking News - TDs criticise Garda response to 'Shell to Sea' protests
- http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2007/may/06/shell-corrib-gas-protesters-have-cost-gardai-over-/ Tribune
- 'Corrib dispute turns nasty', Mayo Echo, 15 November 2006
- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0822/1219353251618.html
- http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/corrib-protesters-jailed-420741.html Breaking News