National - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

NATIONAL DEMO: Justice for the Rossport 5

Tuesday September 20, 2005 11:50

by Shell to SEA

A national rally to demand the release of the Rossport Five and the relocation of a potentially dangerous gas refinery was officially launched in Dublin recently.

Relatives of the Co Mayo men jailed for objecting to the gas pipeline’s construction on their land gathered with supporters at Shell’s Dublin headquarters yesterday to launch the rally.

The five men — Micheál Ó Seighin, Willie Corduff, Brendan Philbin, and brothers Vincent and Philip McGrath — have been behind bars since June 29 for breaching a High Court injunction taken out by Shell and by Statoil and Marathon, Shell Oil’s partner companies in Shell Exploration and Production Ireland.

Organisers say the rally is intended to highlight the men’s continuing plight and the call for a controversial gas refinery planned for a rural district of Co Mayo to be relocated to the Atlantic Ocean, where there would be little risk to members of the public.

The Rossport Five were jailed after objecting to the gas pipeline connecting the Corrib gas field and the planned refinery being constructed on their land.

The Irish government did a deal with Shell E&P Ireland and has so far refused to help secure the release of the five men from jail.
Máire Ní Sheighin, daughter of Micheál Ó Seighin, appealed for people across Ireland to attend the rally.

“It is now over 78 days since the men went to prison. This does not constitute justice or democracy.

“The consortium, including Shell and Statoil, which is exploiting the Corrib gas field, should immediately apply to lift the injunction which has led to the imprisonment of the five men.

“We are calling on everybody who believes in justice and democracy — and particularly the trade unions, community groups and political parties — to mobilise their members for October 1 and to place the responsibility for this entire mess at the hands of the government.

“It is they who granted the consents to this consortium. It is time for them to start acting in the interests of ordinary people and not those of the big multinationals.”

Mary Corduff, the wife of Willie Corduff, said she welcomed support from any quarter.

“Democracy has failed us and failed each and every person in Ireland and what’s happening to us can happen to any person in Ireland and, as such, this rally is very important.

“It’s a terrible shame but we have to do this. We’re doing what the government should be doing, protecting their area, and they haven’t done that. They’ve failed us.”

The October 1 rally will begin at 2.30pm at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, Dublin.

Later this month, minister for the marine Noel Dempsey is to appear before the chairman of the joint Oireachtas committee on communications, marine and natural resources to give a detailed account of the process involved in the Corrib gas project.

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Comments (9 of 9)

YES

by Caoimhe - dublin Shell to Sea

Fri Sep 30, 2005 19:33

Yes demo will still go ahead.

Bike Bloc to go ahead!

by Satrstruck - Grassroots Dissent/Shell to Sea

Fri Sep 30, 2005 18:00

Bring colour,banners,flags,music,non-motorised forms of transport,imagination and energy.
The men are free,for now,but the fight for justice is only just beginning!

Bike bloc

by F - GrassrootsDissent

Fri Sep 30, 2005 17:53

The bike bloc will join in the demo tomorrow at 2.00 from the Garden of Rembrance, if it wants to...

Tomorrow's march still on!

by anarchaeologist - Dublin Shell to Sea

Fri Sep 30, 2005 17:47

In case anyone is in any doubt, tommorow's national demonstration called by Shell to Sea is still taking place.
The people of Ireland will tomorrow celebrate on the streets of Dublin the release of the Rossport 5 and the temporary capitulation of Shell/Statoil.

We must remember though that this is only the beginning of what may turn out to be a long struggle.

We must remember that members of the present government have sold us all out by giving away our right to exploit our natural resources to a multinational.

We must remember that this government was happy to let 5 men remain in prison for nearly 100 days at the behest of Shell/Statoil and only began to work for their release on the eve of a national demonstration.

We must continue to support the people of Erris in their resistance to the pipeline and their demand that the gas be refined offshore.

Remember above all ,that direct action can change the way things operate in this country and it's up to all of us to continue the fight until Shell go to Sea.

The Rossport 5 are free this afternoon, but won't have received justice until this is achieved.

by s

Fri Sep 30, 2005 16:41

rossport 5 freed. Will the march go ahead

You don't need a bike to join the Critical Mass...

by anarchaeologist - Shell to Sea Dublin

Thu Sep 29, 2005 22:03

Just get yourself out to Cloverhill for 11.30 on Saturday. You can get the 78A bus from the quays or the Arrow out to Clondalkin station and leg it from there.

Id imagine its doing the same old lap to the Dail

by Shell to Hell

Thu Sep 29, 2005 19:42

I really do hope the march is a huge success and that many thousands turn out,but I personally would like to see at least some small inckling of a different appraoch,I hear theres a bicycle ride happening that morning,that could be good,I dont have a bike myself but It shows some imagination.
In saying that we are all behind Rossport and the struggle.

Where to?

by Ryder - .

Thu Sep 29, 2005 17:55

Where is the march goin to?

Start time

by Tadhg

Tue Sep 20, 2005 20:12

The assembly time on the leaflets and posters is 2PM.

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NATIONAL DEMO: Justice for the Rossport 5

Comments (9 of 9)