Five women and four men, with addresses in Ireland, the UK, and France, appeared before a special sitting of Ballina District Court on Monday evening, arising out of public order charges following a Shell to Sea protest at Glengad last Sunday. Seven of the nine were remanded in custody until today (Friday July 3 ).
Superintendent Frank Walsh told the court that he would like to remand all nine in custody as many had addresses outside the jurisdiction, and were temporarily residing at the Rossport Solidarity Camp, and the superintendent also thought there would be a likelihood of re-offending if released on bail.
Defending solicitor for all nine, Peter Loftus, made bail and legal aid applications to Judge Mary Devins. Mr Loftus applied for bail as the defendants could be in custody for a few weeks while awaiting a trial date, however bail applications were only granted on their own cash bond of €100 each for Cormac McHugh, The Bungalow, Harbourview, Kilbrittain, Cork, and Arina Obuchova, 66 Abbey View, Kinsale, on the condition that they would leave Mayo forthwith and not return until Ballina District Court on July 28 for mention to fix a date for hearing. Obuchova, who is a Lithuanian national, was also asked to surrender her passport.
Frances Barker, Danielle Gibbons, Sophie Bollard, all from Leeds, along with Alma Baker from La Rochelle, France, were remanded in custody to the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy where they will be brought before Court 44 today. James Marlow and Nathan Samari, who gave their addresses as the Rossport Solidarity camp, along with Eoin Lawless from Finglas, were remanded in custody to Harristown, to appear before Harristown Court this morning.
Legal aid was not granted for seven of the nine defendants as Judge Devins said there was not enough documentary evidence to support these applications and said that legal aid in this country “is no longer dished out like Smarties”. Two legal aid applications for Lawless and McHugh were deferred.
