Dublin Shell to Sea

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.”
Other sentences for local campaigners today included:
Niall Harnett: 240 hours community service.
Martin McDonnell: 4 month jail sentence, suspended for 2 years with a bond to keep the peace.
Tony King and Kevin Moran: both received fines of €500.
All of these cases were on appeal.