ON GARDA

Veteran ‘Shell to Sea’ Campaigner, Maura Harrington has just been sentenced to four weeks imprisonment for supposedly assaulting a Garda in June 2007 at protests against Shell’s oil project on the west coast of Ireland (See SchNEWS 643). She was also ordered to pay a €1,000 fine and €1,000 to the Garda benevolent fund (she refused to agree to the latter).

Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway stated “On the 11th June 2007, at Pollathomais, in the region of 20 local people received injuries in relation to Gardaí forcing their way illegally on to private property, yet no Garda has ever been brought to justice as a result of this incident. Instead now that Shell is about to begin their works in Glengad, it seems that the state operation against the community has kicked into gear”.

Last year saw a protest camp at Rossport, as dogged direct action helped prevent work beginning on the pipe laying before the winter lay-off. These protests included a ten day hunger strike by Maura Harrington. (See SchNEWS 647). But now work could be about to begin again soon so the campaign is building up again.

For updates and further news see www.shelltosea.com