Justice for Pat "The Chief" O'Donnell, Tuesday 15th Feb 5pm Shell HQ Dublin
Dublin Shell To Sea will be holding a public demonstration against the jailing of Pat "The Chief" O'Donnell . We encourage as many of our supporters to come along on Tues and let Shell know we will continue our campaign against the theft of our natural resources and the criminalisation of those who oppose this project.
Please spread the word and bring as many people as you can.
FISHERMAN JAILED FOR 7 MONTHS FOR OPPOSING SHELL’S INLAND REFINERY
Campaigners still being criminalised despite vindication by An Bord Pleanála
Erris fisherman and prominent Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O’Donnell (52) has been jailed for a total of seven months after losing his appeals against convictions for an alleged "breach of the peace" and allegedly "obstructing a garda". The sentences were handed down at a Circuit Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar.
Caoimhe Kerins, a spokesperson for Dublin Shell to Sea, said: “This sentence is yet another example of the very harsh punishments being given to prominent anti-Shell campaigners for what are minor public order offences. The community living close to Shell’s proposed experimental refinery is being criminalised for their opposition to this disastrous project.”
“Last November, An Bord Pleanala vindicated the stance of the local community when it found that up to half of Shell's proposed onshore pipeline route was ‘unacceptable’ on safety grounds. Yet these same campaigners are being harassed and intimidated by gardai, falsely accused of breaches of public order and assault and are being given sentences not normally seen for such minor offences.”
"All I am trying to do is protect my family and the seas that are our livelihood. My family has fished these waters for five generations - I have no authority to sell the rights to these waters" Pat O Donnell - fisherman
Shells HQ on Leeson street
52 Lower Leeson Street
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Dublin Shell to Sea Press Alert
PROTEST AT SHELL HEADQUATERS ON LEESON STREET, DUBLIN IN SUPPORT OF JAILED FISHERMAN
Protest will take place at 18:00 this evening.
Erris fisherman and prominent Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O’Donnell (52) was last week jailed for a total of seven months after losing his appeals against convictions for an alleged "breach of the peace" and allegedly "obstructing a garda". The sentences were handed down at a Circuit Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar. A protest will be held this evening in support of Pat O’Donnell.
Caoimhe Kerins, a spokesperson for Dublin Shell to Sea, said: “We expect large numbers to the protest this evening. Pat O’Donnell is a well respected and popular local fisherman in Mayo. He is known to all in the community and everyone is deeply upset by his imprisonment and the smears against his character for his opposition to the Corrib Gas Project in its current form. Pat O’Donnell is a gentleman who is neither a ‘bully’ nor a ‘thug’. He is standing up his and his community’s rights and has been criminalised and vilified for doing so.”
“Last November, An Bord Pleanala vindicated the stance of the local community when it found that up to half of Shell's proposed onshore pipeline route was ‘unacceptable’ on safety grounds.”
“It is unacceptable that Shell to Sea campaigners are being criminalised for their opposition to the Corrib Gas Project. The law is being applied in an extremely selective manner in Mayo. Thirty local people were hauled up in front of the courts last week alone all on minor charges.”
Pat O’Donnell was attacked at sea by four masked men a few months ago and left for dead. Willie Corduff was beaten into unconsciousness on the Shell site at Glengad. Children are filmed while undressing on the beach by Shell security staff. There have yet to be any arrests made for these issues.
ENDS