SHELLS BELLS

Shell returned in force to Glengad, west Ireland, on the 22nd April to attempt to begin work on the offshore section of their controversial gas pipeline. Following the brutal attack by Shell security on Willie Corduff as he blockaded a truck on the first day of work (see SchNEWS 673), local resistance has intensified. The compound being built on Glengad beach contravenes planning laws and is essentially an illegal development. At least 100 local people have gone on several occasions to attempt to remove the fencing and end work. 

They face continued violence from both the Gardai and Shell’s IRMS security (recently exposed for recruiting right wing Eastern European paramilitaries). On Sunday ropes were attached to the fences to pull them down. While the action was not successful in removing the fences on that day, momentum is building locally and nationally and a day of action has been called for this Saturday to force Shell from Glengad. 

As ever, the odds remain firmly stacked against the Rossport community. After the attack on Willie, the Gardai put out a fabricated account of what happened, turning the attack on Willie on its head, and stating that masked men had attacked the compound destroying Shell’s equipment. The media ran with the story, with some going as far as to suggest that the resistance in Mayo was in fact a recruiting ground for republican paramilitaries and that the campaign had connections to the recent killings in the north. There was no basis for the claims and it was clearly another attempt by the powers to turn public opinion against those resisting in Mayo. 

It looks set to be another summer of action and a new Rossport Solidarity Camp is currently being built on the coast at Glengad to provide a place to stay for anyone wanting to engage in “holidarity”. The Rossport Solidarity Camp is also hosting a summer gathering from the 29th May to the 1st June combining workshops, direct action training and action.

* See www.corribsos.com