Four anti-Corrib campaigners were arrested on Tuesday afternoon after they attempted to block work at the Shell site in Aughoose, Belmullet. However, Shell to Sea criticised the actions of Belmullet gardaí, who claim that cable ties were used in the arrest of one woman and that a male was punched while in Garda custody.
In a statement released by the campaigners on Wednesday, they claim that work at the Shell compound came to a standstill for over seven hours, after two people from the Rossport Solidarity camp locked their arms together inside a plastic and concrete barrel in front of the gates of the Shell site. This protest commenced at 7am and by 1pm this barrel was eventually removed by gardaí.
Following this, a tractor bringing a borehole drilling rig to Shell was stopped and two people climbed up on the tractor cab and the borehole drilling rig.
Shell to Sea claims that gardaí were aggressive in the manner in which they made the arrests.
Superintendent Patrick Diskin from Belmullet Garda Station confirmed to the Mayo Advertiser that four people had been arrested on Tuesday afternoon for public order offences. The superintendent said that the four arrested, who were not from the area, were brought to Belmullet Garda Station and were later released without charge.
Supt Diskin said that a file was being prepared for the DPP. The superintendent also said that no complaint was made to gardaí at Belmullet Garda Station on Tuesday by any of those who were arrested.
