AFri Calls for Suspension of Corrib Gas Project and Launches Petition

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Monday January 18, 2010 19:44 by Michael Gallagher - Photographer libertypics at yahoo dot ie

At a well attended press launching in Dublin, human rights activists Andy Storey, Dennis Halliday and Benny McCabe outlined some of the history over the last ten years since Shell arrived in Erris, County Mayo, Ireland.

Dennis Halliday - Benny McCabe - Andy Storey Pics © Michael Gallagher 2010

Human rights organisation AFri is calling for a suspension of all work on the Corrib project in Erris County Mayo, pending an independent and comprehensive investigation of it's safety, human rights, economic and environmental dimensions. Afri is asking people to sign a petition to that effect, which will be delivered to the government next month.

Afri chairperson Andy Storey noted that, "local people oppose the project because of the dangers it poses to their health and safety, and the way in which the policing of the project has violated their human rights. People throughout Ireland have also objected to the project on the grounds that Shell and it's associates are reaping the full benefits of this gas find while the Irish people - the true owners of the resource - are left with almost nothing."

Benny McCabe, who has been working as a human rights monitor for AFri in Mayo noted that 75% of complaints against the Gardaí over policing of the project were recently deemed credible by the Garda Ombudsman Commission, but he went on to point out that only one finding has been made against the gardaí and even that has not been acted upon by the Commissioner.

More info on afri document here: http://www.afri.ie/
Some notable names who have already signed: journalist Vincent Browne, Senator David Norris, artists Louis De Paor, Rita Ann Higgins and Lelia Doolin.

For the full press statement and more information contact:
Andy Storey 087 654 3872 - Benny Mc Cabe 087 4162803 - Jim Murray (Afri) 086 3946893

For more about the ShellToSea campaign: http://www.shelltosea.com

Photo essays etc: http://www.myspace.com/libertypix

Local activist Maura Harrington.