The already tense situation at Glengad, Belmullet, between anti Shell activists and security staff working at the Shell compound, escalated on Wednesday night, April 22, when at approximately 11.30pm “up to 15 men wearing balaclavas and armed with iron bars and chains entered the compound and threatened the security staff,” according to a Garda statement.
The statement from the Garda press office said that a digger which was secured on the site was started by the intruders and used to cause damage to fencing and large bollards. One member of the security staff received an injury to his arm and received medical attention.
The dramatic events reached this turbulent climax when earlier that day Rossport resident Willie Corduff (55 ), with two others initially, lay under a Shell truck in order to prevent gates being erected at the Glengad compound. On Thursday morning after 3.30am Corduff was removed from the compound by security and was brought to Mayo General Hospital.
In a statement released by Pobal Chill Chomain and Pobal le Cheile on Thursday afternoon, it claimed that Mr Corduff was “beaten under the cover of darkess by a group of armed individuals who were concealing their identities” and said that a “similar group caused damge to equipment on the site”. The statement added that their groups are “fundamentally opposed to violence and intimidation from any quarter”.
According to gardaí no arrests were made and the area has been sealed off for technical examination with the investigation ongoing. Shell E&P Ireland Ltd declined to comment due to the fact that the matter is a criminal investigation.
