Policing of the Corrib gas protests: Difference between revisions
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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 |
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 police 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 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> |
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[[File:Garda victim.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A [[Shell to Sea]] protester is removed by paramedics from Lennon's quarry, [[Glencastle]] after an encounter with the [[Garda Public Order Unit]], November 2006]] |
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==Bellanaboy== |
==Bellanaboy== |
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After the [[Rossport Five]] were jailed in the summer of 2005 for [[ |
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. <ref>http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2007/may/06/shell-corrib-gas-protesters-have-cost-gardai-over-/</ref> 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 (policeman)|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.") |
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[[File:Shell to Sea protest in Glengad.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gardaí]] remove |
[[File:Shell to Sea protest in Glengad.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gardaí]] remove an elderly [[Belmullet]] man from a protest at the [[Glengad]] Shell site, August 2008]] |
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The |
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-on]]s) 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. |
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[[File:Shell to Sea placard.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Shell to Sea placard]] |
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Superintendent Gannon was replaced by Superintendent [[John Gilligan (policeman)|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]]. |
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==Glengad== |
==Glengad== |
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In July 2008, preparatory work for the raw gas pipeline began in [[Glengad]]. Under Gilligan's superintendency, the no-arrest policy |
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 pot]]s that were in the path of the pipe laying vessel, [[Solitaire (ship)|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. |
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The [[Garda Water Unit]] were used to manage the actions of water |
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. <ref>http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0822/1219353251618.html |
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</ref>. |
</ref>. |
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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 and transferred to the Garda Press Office. |
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[[File:Shell to Sea protester injured in Belmullet Courthouse.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Rossport Solidarity Camp]] spokesman Niall Harnett is removed from Belmullet courthouse following an altercation with Gardaí, March 2009]]. |
[[File:Shell to Sea protester injured in Belmullet Courthouse.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Rossport Solidarity Camp]] spokesman Niall Harnett is removed from Belmullet courthouse following an altercation with Gardaí, March 2009]]. |
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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>[http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnojmhkfmh/]</ref>. This is comparable to the €20 Million budgeted for Operation Anvil, the operation targeting [[organised crime]], criminal gangs and their associates <ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0901/1220180159150.html]</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>[http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnojmhkfmh/]</ref>. This is comparable to the €20 Million budgeted for Operation Anvil, the operation targeting [[organised crime]], criminal gangs and their associates <ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0901/1220180159150.html]</ref>. |
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==Pobal Chill Chomáin== |
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| ⚫ | |||
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]]. |
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| ⚫ | Since the outbreak of protests there have been |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | 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 <ref>http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/corrib-protesters-jailed-420741.html Breaking News</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Shell to Sea]] |
*[[Shell to Sea]] |
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*[[Corrib gas |
*[[Corrib gas controversy]] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Policing Of The Corrib Gas Protests}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Policing Of The Corrib Gas Protests}} |
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Revision as of 15:23, 18 August 2009
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Corrib gas controversy. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2009. |
 |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2009) |
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 police 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 politicians [1]
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. [2] 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.
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. [3].
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 [4]. This is comparable to the €20 Million budgeted for Operation Anvil, the operation targeting organised crime, criminal gangs and their associates [5].
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 [6]
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-/
- ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0822/1219353251618.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/corrib-protesters-jailed-420741.html Breaking News