Justice for Pat O'Donnell - S2S Protest at the GPO Sat 20th Feb 2pm

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Friday February 19, 2010 10:07 by DS2S

Shell beginning to recognise inland refinery not viable

Shell’s decision to suspend key parts of its work on the Corrib Gas project is the beginning of a recognition by the company that its experimental inland refinery project is “not going to work”, according to the Shell to Sea campaign.

News Release
Issued by Dublin Shell to Sea
Friday, 19th February, 2010

SHELL STARTING TO RECOGNISE THAT INLAND REFINERY IS NOT VIABLE

-- Major rally planned for jailed fisherman Pat O’Donnell at GPO, Dublin on Saturday at 2pm --

Shell’s decision to suspend key parts of its work on the Corrib Gas project is the beginning of a recognition by the company that its experimental inland refinery project is “not going to work”, according to the Shell to Sea campaign.

“Shell is finally conceding that it cannot steamroll ahead with a dangerous project against the wishes of the receiving community,” Dublin Shell to Sea spokesperson Caoimhe Kerins said.

“Although this announcement is a significant victory for the local community, other major works will still be going ahead, while fisherman Pat O’Donnell is out of Shell’s way in prison. This means that 2010 is set to be another year of disruption for the community, continued harassment and intimidation by Gardai and Shell security, as well as the unlawful arrest and the targeted jailing of key campaigners.”

“There are no options left for Shell, except to process the gas at sea, which is standard practice around the world. This is what local people have been demanding for almost a decade. It's still not to late to do the right thing.”

Shell’s announcement comes days after the jailing for seven months of popular local fisherman and Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O’Donnell (52). He was jailed for minor public order offences.

Supporters from around Ireland are travelling to Dublin on Saturday for a major rally in support of O’Donnell. This will take place at the GPO at 2pm. The campaign has received hundreds of messages of support for Pat. “There is outrage at the severity of his sentence and a recognition that he was jailed because the Gardai wanted to get him out of the way of Shell’s work in Sruwaddacon estuary,” Dublin Shell to Sea spokesperson Caoimhe Kerins said.

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins MEP earlier this week described the jailing as “an outrageous attack on the right to protest. Contrary to the statement of Judge Raymond Groarke, Pat O’Donnell is no thug or bully – he is a hero for standing up to Shell to defend the safety of his community. The Irish state has played the role of thug and bully in this conflict. They have intimidated, beaten, and repeatedly jailed peaceful protestors for actively opposing the giveaway of €420 billion worth of oil and gas off the west coast of Ireland. This jail sentence is an attempt to intimidate the community from protesting against the major works planned by Shell during the summer.”

Last November, An Bord Pleanála found that up to half of the proposed new onshore pipeline route was “unacceptable” on safety grounds, due to proximity to housing.