Rossport: One Week on Road Block Continues with more drama in the compound, plus court details
mayo |
environment |
news report 
Tuesday June 28, 2005 16:23
by Terry, plus long distance report from John M. - Shell to Sea
info at shelltosea dot com
Narrow roads, septic tanks and the four courts, the saga continues, one week into the Shell truck blockade.
A number of local residents made an appointment to meet Paddy Mahon, Mayo CoCo senior engineer, in the Shell-Statoil-Roadbridge-Sicim compound in Rossport this morning about 11 a.m. This relates to the discovery last week of a septic tank in the compound. This is as under planning law a septic tank cannot be excluded from planning permission - this one doesn't have permission and is also too close to the estuary to be legal.
The tank had evidence of tampering with, and Mahon claimed it was just a 'storage facility' as he had been told by the developers in the first place. However the residents refused to accept this as they had evidence to the contrary - basically a septic tank has to have a pipe going in and one going out, a storage unit only the one going in, and there was an effort to obscure the outflow pipe.
The residents refused to move until Mahon - who had left - came back out and their concerns were satisfied. The Garda were called and there was a bit of noise about tresspassing, ultimatly Mahon came back and currently a JCB is unearthing the septic tank. Shell-Statoil-Roadbridge-Sicim have now changed their story to saying that the facility was designed as a spetic tank, but not used as one.
Meanwhile the vigil on the road preventing trucks from entering the compound in protest at the complete lack of a traffic management plan is continuing and is now a week old. Supporters from Louth, Galway, and Ballina have joined residents and more are very welcome.
Tomorrow is court day: High Court this Wednesday 29th June at 11am. Ask at Four Courts reception
which court is hearing Shell Oil V's McGrath and others.
Details here: http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70442
Shell are seeking the imprisonment of Willie Corduff, Micheal O'Seighin (who is 65 years old and had a triple by-pass in 2001) – pictures of both of these men are here: http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70173 and the imprisonment of Brendan Philbin and Philip McGrath – an interview with these men is here:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70185
and the imprisonment of Vincent McGrath, retired school teacher and traditional musician who lives just opposite the pipeline route.
A presence is very welcome inside and outside the courtroom, should they be imprisoned meet outside Mountjoy at 7.30pm.
This evening there is a meeting in Dublin: http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70487
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6Willie & co good luck in court tomorrow
Good luck willie
down with the landgrabbers
Heads high and good luck to all
Well Done for exposing Shell, lets hope that it opens a few more eyes to these scumbags. Residents of Rossport should now see what we are dealing with, come on show some support for these great people its about time you did. We should unite and send Shell packing, lets think about what we stand to loose. Open the front door and take in that wonderful view are you willing to loose all this. Wishing you the Best of Luck in court today, looking forward to some progress in the right direction. Keeping our fingers crossed here in Kent.
Extract: In a week where Shell E&P Ireland has been vociferously defending its record on health and safety and planning matters, the company has been found to have constructed an apparent unauthorised development at its compound in Rossport.
Mayo Co Council has confirmed that it served warning notices on Shell and construction company, Roadbridge Ltd late last week in relation to an apparent unauthorised septic tank at the Rossport compound.
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