Willie Corduff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Revision as of 19:37, 4 November 2009

Willie Corduff and other Shell to Sea campaigners protest at the trespass of Paddy McGrath's land by Barnacullia pier, June 2007

Willie Corduff (born 1953) is an Irish environmental activist from the farming community of Rossport. Corduff's parents first arrived in Rossport in 1947, and reclaimed a farm by hand out of bogland.^[1] He became a campaigner against Shells' activities in his local area. He is married to Mary and they have six children and four grandchildren.

Beginning of activism

His farming existence changed with the discovery of gas seventy Kilometres offshore. In 2000 he discovered the exploitation of the gas involved the construction of a high pressure pipeline, 70 metres from their house, to a new refinery. He was also concerned about the proposed refinery site, it's suitability and its proximity to, the primary source of water for the region. His concerns were echoed by other locals who demanded participation in the process.

Rossport Five

In 2004 Frank Fahey, then Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources signed a Compulsory Acquisition Order to force the raw gas pipeline through his land. In January he said Landowner Willy Corduff said that "allowing Shell to construct a pipeline would be the same as having a time-bomb in the vicinity".^[2] Corduff refused Shell access to his land and was subsequently jailed for 94 days in 2005 as one of the Rossport Five for defying a court order not to interfere with Shell's work. In 2006 he said he was "prepared to die" rather than see the pipeline cross his land.^[3]

Shell to Sea

He is one of the founding members of the Shell to Sea campaign group which was set up in the aftermath of the campaign to free the Rossport Five and to oppose the pipeline and refinery. Its aim is to have the gas processed at sea. He has actively campaigned with them and has been arrested on numerous occasions.^{[4] [5]}

Goldman Environmental Prize

He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2007 for his part in the Shell to Sea and protest campaign, which led to a halt of the construction of a pipeline through their land by Shell.^[6]

Alleged assault 2009

In April 2009, Shell resumed laying the offshore section of the pipeline after its environmental management plan was approved by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan. Mr Corduff and two others climbed under a lorry at midday on Wednesday April 22 in a bid to stop work at a Glengad compound. He remained there until 4am on April 23 when he took a break. He said he was then assaulted by several balaclaved men, including being hit on the head with a baton or torch, whom he contends were security men working at the site.^{[7] [8][9][10][11]} The Registrar of Mayo General Hospital confirmed Corduff's injuries were consistent with his account of the assault, and photos obtained by Village Magazine, taken while he was in hospital and in the days after his release, show bruising on his head, face and body.^[12] Jim Farrell, a director of I-RMS, claimed he and his employees had intended to remove Corduff, but found him standing up, and had him taken away by ambulance when he complained of chest pains^[13].

Nobel peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu condemned the alleged assault and called for a national and international investigation into it.

Featured on RTE Television

In October 2009 he and his wife were featured in an episode of Would you believe on RTE television in Ireland.^[14]. The documentary was entitled "Living on the Edge". As it is part of a religous Affairs series Willie revealed he stopped attending church when the Bishop and the local priest blessed the Gas rig and became advocates for the gas project.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has recommended that disciplinary action be taken against a senior member of An Garda Síochána in relation to the handling of a protest over Corrib gas at Pollathomas pier in June 2007. Willie's wife Mary, who received treatment for injuries, was one of 14 people who were told in October 2007 their complaints were deemed admissible.^[15]

References

1. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/22/ING7VPBAH91.DTL
2. ^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardai-called-to-pipe-site-over-access-row-277919.html
3. ^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/im-prepared-to-die-rather-than-let-this-pass-by-my-home-says-defiant-protester-96254.html
4. ^ http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=420&Itemid=38l
5. ^ http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/33294
6. ^ Goldman Environmental Prize 2007: [http://www.goldmanprize.org/node/605 Willie Corduff] (Retrieved on 2007-10-25)
7. ^ Village magazine, July/August 2009
8. ^ Protester claims he was beaten up, Irish Times, April 23, 2009, 13:18.
9. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0430/1224245681713.html
10. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/10/rossport-gas-pipeline-shell
11. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0424/1224245293902.html
12. ^ 'Irish media failing over Rossport', Village magazine, June 2009
13. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6639020.ece
14. ^ http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1058558
15. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1030/1224257680085.html

External links

• Interview with Corduff
• MSNBC Irishman describes battle over pipeline
• BBC interview
• Willie Corduff on Late Late show