This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cathar11 (talk | contribs) at 15:24, 20 August 2009. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 15:24, 20 August 2009 by Cathar11 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Corrib gas controversy. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2009. |
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Policing of the Corrib gas protests" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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 policing 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 Gardaí's response to protests have drawn criticism from NGOs and some politicians
Bellanaboy
After the Rossport Five were jailed in the summer of 2005 for refusing to allow Shell workers access to their lands, supporters blockaded all project works around Kilcommon in protest, forming the Shell to Sea (S2S) campaign. The protesters demanded that the gas be refined offshore (as is done with Ireland's only other producing gas field). These blockades were maintained until October 2006, when hundreds of police used force to remove protesters from in and around the sites. Previous to this, the police had not interfered with the blockades, which stayed in place for fifteen months. The methods used to break the blockades were controversial, and made national TV news in Ireland, even being reported as far away as Australia. Some protesters were hospitalised, and many people accused the police of using dangerous levels of violence. The police were also accused of operating a "no-arrest policy" in order to circumvent the judicial process (this was based on comments made by Superintendent 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 police operation succeeded in its goal of breaking the blockades preventing work on the refinery site at Bellanaboy. Work there has continued (with brief pauses occasioned by site occupations and lock-ons) since, and is almost complete. At times, hundreds of police have been deployed on the previously quiet country roads in norhtwest County Mayo to facilitate the project. Many people involved in Shell to Sea also complained of harassment and intimidation from police away from the protests. 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) after a fracas involving scores of protesters facing off against scores of police and a digger machine in June 2007. Gannon was moved to Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin.
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, which had already begun to ease under Gannon, fell further into disuse, 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 Gardaí 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. Gardaí 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 wrestle with Shell to Sea protesters near the Shell compound of Glengad beach. .
Superintendent Gilligan was replaced by Superintendent Mick Larkin in the autumn of 2008 and transferred 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 .
Pobal Chill Chomáin
In April 2008, some people involved in S2S left to form another anti-Shell group, Pobal Chill Chomáin. Although this group are seen as more moderate than S2S, they have also complained of police surveillance.
Convictions of protesters
Since the outbreak of protests there have been arrests of protesters, chiefly on public order offences. In 2005, the Rossport Five were jailed for refusing to allow Shell employees work unhindered. 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 Rossport Solidarity Camp spokesman 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-/
- '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