Locals evicted from Civic Centre as President looks on

mayo | environment | news report Saturday April 21, 2007 19:55 by Annabelle - Shell to Sea

Shell to Sea demonstration at Presidential visit in Belmullet.

President. Pretty (indifferent) in pink.

Today 21/04/07 two hundred days into the police occupation of Erris, President Mary McAleese came to Belmullet to visit the new civic centre and council offices. A group of Shell to Sea protesters were outside voicing their opposition to the proposed raw gas pipeline and terminal at Bellanaboy. There was a local community presence around the building and at the back a group delayed the landing of the Presidents helicopter and held a banner that read “united in the fight against raw gas” for all inside to see. Some members of the community were inside the building when the President arrived. Upon her arrival the President was asked if she “Could help reclaim the natural resources for the people of Ireland?” and if she “could reduce the police presence that has been imposed on the community?” - Both residents were pointedly ignored by the President and forcibly removed from the building by Gardai.

One observer said that he considered it to be “an affront to democracy” that members of the community for whom the building was created were not only excluded from the proceedings but also violently ejected whilst the President refused to acknowledge the presence of campaigners. A number of onlookers who had come with their families to see the President expressed their anger at the behaviour of the Gardai and expressed their support for the campaigners. They also commented on how offensive it was that elected representatives could treat the local community with such contempt. One campaigner commented that he was used to this kind of treatment from the Gardai at the gates of the Bellanaboy refinery site but hadn’t expected it outside the civic centre in full view of the President. Needless to say the Presidents visit carried on amongst less vocal members of the community without further interruptions. The siege continues…