Sinn Féin Call For Immediate Release Of Pat O' Donnell

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Sunday April 04, 2010 15:47 by Cllr Gerry Murray - Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin have called for the immediate release of Rossport Fisherman Pat O' Donnell
who is currently serving a sentence in Castlereagh prison. The call was made in the
aftermath of a visit to Mr O Donnell by a Sinn Féin delegation made up of Martin
Ferris T.D. Cllr. Gerry Murray, Cllr Rose Conway-Walsh and Cllr Thérèse Ruane.
Following the visit Deputy Ferris stated that no useful purpose was been served by
the ongoing detention of Pat O' Donnell and called for his immediate release.

The delegation also renewed their call for all oil and gas exploration licences
issued under the terms and conditions introduced by former Energy Minister Ray Burke
in 1987 to be suspended and referred to the contrast between the potential for
economic prosperity contained in the reserves that lie off our coast, with the
current cut backs in public spending. It's ironic that those bankers and
developers who are responsible for plundering billions from Irish Taxpayers are
celebrating in their Mansions throughout the world while Pat O'Donnell is locked up
in Jail separated from his wife and children. Pat O'Donnell is a principled man
who has real concerns about the health and safety of this high pressured pipeline
and the impact it has on the local indigenous fishing industry.