11/05/2009

Corrib Protesters Arrested Following Clashes

Shell to Sea demonstrators have been arrested after clashing with Gardaí at the disputed Corrib site yesterday.

Seven men, ranging in ages from teenagers to mid-40s are to appear in court on charges of public order offences, criminal damage, obstruction and possession of offensive weapons, and are to appear in Ballina District Court on Wednesday.

Around 150 protesters from the Shell to Sea campaign, including men, women and children, were involved in the demonstration, which began at 7pm on Saturday evening.

Some of the protestors were attempting to pull down a fence, which they say has been erected without planning permission, although this is disputed by Shell.

Gardaí confiscated cables, ropes and tools being used by protestors, and made seven arrests.

This latest protest follows similar actions last month when protesters removed sections of the fence they believed were erected illegally.

On 23 April, Willie Corduff, who is a member of the anti Corrib Gas line pressure group Pobal Chill Chomáin, was hospitalised in the early hours of the morning after an alleged assault by masked Shell security staff during a protest at Shell works at Glengad.

However, a garda spokesman said yesterday there was no breach of the compound on Saturday night, and that neither protesters nor gardai had been injured.

(DW/BMcC)

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