We can stop them

by Shell to Sea Fri Apr 13, 2007 23:35

Various attempts to stop Iggy Madden trucks and Garda response

by Shell to Sea Fri Apr 13, 2007 23:38

Let's hope he wasn't hurt...

by Shell to Sea Fri Apr 13, 2007 23:48

Protests continued all morning. While this was going on another group of protesters entered the refinery site-hopefully there will be a report about that here soon.

Eamonn Murphy -refuses to explain why activists are hit rather than arrested- likes the sound of his own voice

by puzzled Sat Apr 14, 2007 08:54

How many protestors - the photos maybe do not give the full picture. Did local people from Erris take part.? How many?Did they invite the protest? I think the protestors should take the case on non- arrest higher up the complaints process. I hope Shell to Sea can make a public point that is more representative. Sruggling by a few people with a few Gardai sporadically gets boring after awhile and does not seem to enjoy significant local support.

by vexed Sat Apr 14, 2007 09:58

Seeing a few people protest an Oil / Gas corporation and live to tell the tale doesn't get boring it's very unusual. freakish.
The Shell Mayo story needs to be told worldwide. Or is it still just "Irish gas" and a "local issue" ?
What is it that really provokes your moral outrage? Irish resources being sold off cheap & a dodgey pipeline and a few young gardai being rough but not beating you into a pulp in their holding cells?

Or the 9mm put to the nape of a neck of a clever African & the arrival of the mercenaries to rape a troublesome village?

Put that in your pipeline and smoke it.

by not confused local Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:49

I was there and I consider myself a local person (have you seen league of gentlemen btw?).

I live in ireland and my mother died in hospital last year, after spending three days on a hospital trolley in a crowded accident and emergency unit. When we complained we were told there was no money to pay nurses to staff the wards.

The corrib field is worth 8 billion euro. ALL the profits will go abroad.

This is my issue.

by Concerned Sat Apr 14, 2007 15:53

Dont know about others but I am outraged at this.

To rub your blood on another human being is disgusting and sickening.

Peaceful protest I do not think so.

A peaceful protest would be standing at the side of the road with placards, chants and prayers.

I wont even call the protesters animals...

Because no animal would rub its blood on another animal.

by bloody protester Sat Apr 14, 2007 16:42

there isn't a lot to wipe your hands on, and he already had my blood on him from when he dragged me along the ground. next time I'll say a prayer, and see if anyone takes any notice...

by cool j Sat Apr 14, 2007 17:08

You may remember a certain baton wielding thug called Conor Reilly wiping blood on a protestor (protestor was bleeding profusely) during the November day of action after Garda Reilly smashed his face in with a couple of well aimed blows.

Though i guess that wouldn't bother a Shell lackey like you!!

by Tadhg Sat Apr 14, 2007 21:17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCwpTBDranQ

articles with pictures appeared in the Irish News and The Irish Independent

The Irish News picture was particularly good I thought.

by outside looking in Sun Apr 15, 2007 20:02

i'd agree with the earlier suggestion about taking it to the other companies involved. iggy madden and his friends are vital to the shell operation. maybe pickets on a few gates and a call for a boycott through the media will make them think twice?

as for 'armed garda' will you ever get a grip. are you saying we should have just 1 armed copper or do you not know the plural as gaeilge? or are you saying you're the real deal, that you're a little charlie bronson and shoot them all. either way you sound like a gymp.

by jay Sun Apr 15, 2007 20:24 thejaydock at hotmail dot com

''With communities around the country crying out for more gardaí to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour, it was once again pointed out that the priorities of the government are skewed, when seemingly endless amounts of Gardaí can be found to attack and terrorise peaceful protesters against a dangerous scheme''

Maybe if the 'peaceful' protestors actaully stuck by that description and not trying to act like thugs, (with ridiculous plans like those mentioned above...which will surely get ye lots of public support by the way) then we wouldn't need so many Gardai on site to you know, uphold the law and the State, protect private property and ensure the rule of law....but then again that's just hideous capitalist pig talk isn't it?

by Saddened Sun Apr 15, 2007 21:14

More blaming the protesters. I doubt you'll get it, but here goes.

It's a matter of priorities.

In parts of Dublin and other cities there have been huge increases in violent crime, drug dealing, and anti-social behaviour.

Many people complain of a sense of insecurity caused by the lack of police presence. The Garda reserve is designed to plug the gap, which even the government perceives is there (recruitment is a lot slower than they hoped, but that's another story).

Near where I live, in Dublin, we have seen a huge rise in street drug dealing, and the inevitable rise in property crime and street prostitution which this causes. A neighbour of mine rang the local police station because a prostitute and her client were having sex at the end of the street where her children could see them. The Guards said they would send someone but they didn't. When she called to complain she was told that it was a matter of priorities.

A block of flats is being de-tenanted by the City Council near here. As I write this there are young people standing outside dealing crack cocaine and heroin. I asked a city councillor what could be done about this but he said the cops told him they couldn't spare officers to deal with it. They hope to find a solution based on closed circuit television cameras.

It's a matter of priorities, they said.

But, to protect Shell in their desire to force the unwilling people of North West Mayo into compliance with their experimental scheme to construct an offshore refinery on bog land, a scheme which will benefit only Shell's shareholders, there is no shortage of officers. Guards are transferred form Limerick, Galway, Kerry, Donegal, and other areas to protect the trucks and refinery from an entirely peaceful protest.

It's a matter of priorities.

The priority is to help Shell shareholders make more money. The guards may not be happy with this themselves, but they feel unable or unwilling to speak out. If I was a cop I would be ashamed.

by jay Sun Apr 15, 2007 23:08

The fact is that if teh Gardai did not protect the Shell workers and the site tiself, the rougher elements within the left-wing factions WOULD try and 'take direct action' or whatever politised phrase they'd use for trashing the place, like the plane at Shannon Airport. Don't try and tell me the site does not require a heavy Garda presence, because the precedent says otherwise.

''Guards are transferred form Limerick, Galway, Kerry, Donegal, and other areas to protect the trucks and refinery from an entirely peaceful protest. ''
Is it peaceful if protestors break into a site and act in a threatening manner towards associates of Shell (e.g. Iggy Madden). Just because you have'nt physically hit someone doesn't mean a Garda presence is not required. A bit of reality would be nice here you know.

''The guards may not be happy with this themselves, but they feel unable or unwilling to speak out. If I was a cop I would be ashamed. ''
The role of the Garda is to uphold the laws and the rule of law itself. Personal opinions do not come into the situation, and it would be a very dangerous time if Guards decided not to do their jobs because of political beliefs that are rejected by the vast majority of right-thinking people in this country, not the mention the government.

by Garda Ted Sun Apr 15, 2007 23:16

"the rougher elements within the left-wing factions "

You're that scared of Brid Smith?

"A bit of reality would be nice here you know" You're telling me...

"The role of the Garda is to uphold the laws and the rule of law itself. Personal opinions do not come into the situation, and it would be a very dangerous time if Guards decided not to do their jobs because of political beliefs that are rejected by the vast majority of right-thinking people in this country, not the mention the government."

Remember Blue Flu?

by jay Sun Apr 15, 2007 23:29

yeah, i do remember the blue flu. and it was an absolute disgrace. effectively the police force giving the one finger salute to the State and getting away with it too. Do you think it sets a good precedent that Gaurds will decide on a case by case basis whether or not to do their job and uphold the law and State, based on fringe political beliefs?
And you know as well as I do that there are certain persons in the S2S etc. that would just love to wreck the refinery if they had half a chance.

by pete burns. Mon Apr 16, 2007 13:06

hey jay
if im not mistaken thise respondsible for "trashing" the plane in shannon where found not guility in a court of law. they where found to have acted legitimately, even with all the state and media bullshit spouted about their case.

Next time therte will be a lot more folks taking direct action at bellinaboy, calmly and collectively organised, maybe on a saturday, maybe not but most definitely at a time of our own choosing.

direct action is democracy in action, self empowered, creative and most importantly effective

by Shell to Sea'er Mon Apr 16, 2007 21:19

Photos of the attempts to stop Iggy Madden trucks from transporting peat from the Bellanaboy Refinery site on Friday April 13th.

You can see how close the protesters got.

Next time there will a traffic jam on the Shell highway.

by S2S supporter Mon Apr 16, 2007 21:26

On a Saturday maybe....the sporadic actions are great though....salutations Comrades!

by Niall Mon Apr 16, 2007 23:57

Great Pics. Spot on Analysis.

We can ... and we will.

by fearbolg - s2s Wed Apr 18, 2007 23:33

hello jay,

a few nice pd-esque comments there.

I think I've seen you at the back of the hall at the oral hearing in belmullet in plain clothes over the past few days. Does this describe you:

4 brain cells
3 useful phrases
2 facial expressions
1 eyebrow
and no idea about what's going on around you.

I'll say hello tomorrow

by Hairy Dublin dregs Sat Apr 28, 2007 22:08

When you say you want to see the residents directly affected compensated properly- does this include compensating the ones who will be killed? or do you mean their next of kin?