Following escalating tensions over the past few weeks between anti-Shell factions and IRMS security staff working at the Shell E&P pipeline landfall site at Glengad, further clashes are imminent this weekend after Shell to Sea are nationally and internationally endeavouring to drum up support for what they are calling a day of action, at 6pm on Saturday, May 9, to remove the fencing around the Glengad site.
Since work has recommenced on the site on April 22 Shell has been met with staunch opposition to the erection of fencing around the compound, as according to Shell to Sea the fencing and the compound has not been granted planning permission. Due to what the activist group believe is a breach of the law, the forceful removal of what the Shell opponent’s deem as “illegal” fences, is what the group are threatening on Saturday. This is not the first time anti-Shell protesters have tried to remove the fencing — last Sunday afternoon a number of disgruntled locals undertook such an attempt. Two weeks previously on April 22 a protest by Rossport resident Willie Corduff, who stationed himself under a truck, culminated in a dramatic disturbance where gardaí claim that armed, masked, men entered the Glengad site and caused substantial damage to property.
Shell to Sea have refuted this version of events as “distorted allegations” which deflect from Willie Corduff’s assault from “Shell mercenaries”. Last week the group, along with Pobal Le Cheile and Pobal Cill Chomain, called on the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to immediately facilitate an internationally supervised investigation into the incident and raised their concerns during a community meeting in Inver Community Hall last Thursday, with Minister’s Eamon Ryan and Eamon Ó Cuív.
The founder of the Goldman Environmental Prize has also spoken out against the recent events in Mayo, and 26 recent Goldman winners have written a letter to the Taoiseach, the President, and the prime minister of Norway, calling for intervention in “what is becoming a humanitarian crisis”.
Prominent Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington told the Mayo Advertiser that the day of action comes from “an informed belief that what Shell are doing is illegal”.
Ms Harrington said that she along with others are “acting in good faith” and “trying to protect what is worth protecting... that is the integrity of Glengad and on a national level to reclaim these natural resources”, along with a genuine concern relating to IRMS security staff.
Ms Harrington said that there has been a positive response from interested parties attendance on Saturday and claimed that it was no coincidence that works recommenced on the Glengad site around the time there are third level exams; as many supporters are students and also in the run up to the local elections; as some supporters also work for political parties — but Ms Harrington said that she was certain there would be a large turn out of “gardaí and goons”.
A Shell spokesperson declined to comment about the proposed weekend disturbances, while the Garda press office could not confirm if extra gardaí are to be drafted into the vicinity for the protest.
