Shell to Sea court cases - 12 November, 2008

mayo | crime and justice | news report Friday November 14, 2008 14:32 by -d-

There were several Shell to Sea court cases heard in the Belmullet district court by judge Mary Devins this week, including the judgment on the charges against Martin O’Donnell and John Farell for a breach of Section 2 – criminal damage, relating to an incident involving a fence being torn down on Coillte land.

Shell to Sea court cases, 12 November, 2008

There were several Shell to Sea court cases heard in the Belmullet district court by judge Mary Devins this week. Sorry, this isn’t a very good update, I didn’t take many notes ‘cause I find it very hard to hear in that courtroom. I must be getting old.

- Niall Harnett had two applications to the court, one for video evidence, another for someone to appear in court.
- The application for videos was refused. For the other application, he was told to put the case in writing, and that application for a witness summons is on hold until a court date is set.

- There was another quick bit about Shell and commonage in Rossport. I didn’t follow that at all – something about the application was withdrawn??

- The main draw of the court that day was to hear the judgment on the charges against Martin O’Donnell and John Farell for a breach of Section 2 – criminal damage, relating to an incident involving a fence being torn down on Coillte land.
- O’Donnell and Farrell were both convicted, sentencing to be held on 14 January, 2009

- A mobile phone belonging to a certain well-known brother of one of the gentlemen mentioned above had the misfortune of ringing during the court proceedings, and was taken into Garda custody for the afternoon. The phone’s owner was taken into custody for a while too, but fortunately both were released without incident after about an hour.