Broughan and Tuffy visit Rossport 5 on 44th day of imprisonment

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Thursday August 11, 2005 16:55

by elaine - labour

Rossport 5 are steadfast in their determination to continue to protest at this development because of their continuing strong fears for the health and safety of their families and community

Labour Spokesperson on Energy, Deputy Tommy Broughan, and South Dublin County Councillor Eamon Tuffy this afternoon (Thursday) had a long meeting with some of imprisoned Corrib gas pipeline protestors at Cloverhill Prison..

Deputy Broughan commented, “We met with Michael O’ Seighin, Philip McGrath and Willie Corduff and found the men in good spirits even though this is now their 44th day in prison. They have been overwhelmed by the support they have received in terms of letters and messages from all around the world for their campaign.

“But obviously this is not a situation that can be allowed to continue indefinitely. All the men have families and work that they want to return to as soon as possible and during the wide-ranging discussion we had earlier they urged that Shell be persuaded to collapse the injunction against them.

“The men are steadfast in their determination to continue to protest at this development because of their continuing strong fears for the health and safety of their families and community if the pipeline in its present form goes ahead. They also stressed that they believed there had been very little reasonable consultation with the local community when this project was being developed.

“When Shell deferred further work on the pipeline last week they said this was to allow greater public dialogue on the matter. Now that this space has been created for discussion the best way to proceed is with these five citizens out of prison and back with their families and community in North Mayo.

“I will continue to pursue Shell, Statoil and the Norwegian government to try and help bring about the end of the mens' incarceration.”