THE recent media furore over the “rape tape” seemed me to be the over-the-top reporting of some unpleasant jokes made by gardaí during private, stress-relieving banter, concerning the consequences they face if lawbreakers are harmed in any way.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Amnesty, the Council for Civil Liberties and One in Four have all condemned comments allegedly made by gardaí in Co Mayo, in which they allegedly joked about threatening to rape a female anti-Shell protestor who had been arrested.

Shell to Sea and Rossport Solidarity Camp have invited senior members of Belmullet Garda Station to attend a public meeting instead of holding talks behind closed doors.

Four Shell to Sea campaigners have been arrested for public order offences after chaining themselves to the stairwells in the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Four Shell to Sea campaigners have chained themselves to the stairwells inside the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in Dublin.

Veteran anti-Corrib campaigner Maura Harrington has said she is determined to continue with her hunger strike, despite the withdrawal of the Solitaire ship today.

THE Labour leadership was spared an embarrassment after party members put on hold a decision on whether to support the Shell to Sea campaign.

The group campaigning against the Shell gas refinery in Co Mayo is vowing to appeal the EPA's decision to grant a licence to the facility.

FIVE demonstrators were arrested and two gardaí injured as clashes broke out during protests at the Corrib gas terminal site in Co Mayo yesterday.

Shell Ireland has condemned the actions of protestors who trespassed onto its Bellanaboy refinery site in Co Mayo this morning.

Gardaí in Co Mayo have arrested a number of people following a protest at the site of the gas refinery being built by Shell in Bellanaboy.

Gardaí say a road that had been blocked by protestors at the site of the proposed Shell gas refinery in Co Mayo is now reopened.

Shell to Sea demonstrators say they have blocked access to the site of the Corrib gas refinery being built in north Co Mayo this morning.

Opponents of the Corrib gas project are staging a demonstration this morning at a peat deposit site being used by Shell in Co Mayo.

Shell to Sea campaigners will take part in the annual Irish/Norwegian community’s Dublin parade today.

Shell to Sea campaigners will today take part in the annual Irish/Norwegian community’s Dublin parade.

Shell Ireland is criticising what it describes as an attempted blockade of its offices in Dublin earlier.

Plans to grant an operating licence for the controversial Corrib gas onshore terminal in Co Mayo were tonight facing further delays after over 10 objections were lodged.

Opponents of the Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo have announced plans to hold a national demonstration in Dublin later this month as part of their ongoing campaign.

A 26-year-old was tonight released with a police caution after he had earlier climbed onto a balcony at the Irish Embassy in London.

An Irish protester was arrested by police today after climbing onto the Irish Embassy building in London.

A cross party delegation joined forces today to call for an independent commission over the controversial Corrib gas pipe line.

Politicians from across the spectrum are criticising Garda behaviour during protests against the Corrib Gas Pipeline.

The Shell to Sea protest group is calling off the planned Day of Solidarity next Friday in an effort to avoid potential injury to demonstrators.

The Shell to Sea protest group’s Day of Action in Co Mayo has sparked off violent scenes. One protestor was reportedly taken to hospital with neck and back injuries.

WHILE many people are aware of the financial and environmental scandal that is taking place off the cost of Mayo, they are probably unaware that Exxon Mobil has been given extensive exploration rights off the coast of Kerry, valued at up to €20 billion.

Fresh talks may take place between Shell Ireland and local residents in north Co Mayo in an effort to resolve the long-running dispute over the Corrib gas terminal site.

A DISTURBING feature of the Corrib gas dispute has been gross misrepresentation of the Shell to Sea campaign by the Irish sensationalist press. This warping of the true nature of the dispute does a grave disservice to Irish democracy.

Trust needs to be built between giant oil company Shell and protestors in Co Mayo, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said tonight.

Hundreds of people will gather at the site of the onshore Corrib gas refinery in Co Mayo today to support the community in objecting to the controversial construction.

GARDAÍ yesterday confirmed they were investigating alleged death threats made against Marine Minister Noel Dempsey.

Gardaí are investigating a death threat issued against Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey.

Three local fishermen were arrested at an early-morning protest blocking Shell’s Corrib gas terminal site in Co Mayo, it emerged today.

Three protesters were arrested and two gardaí injured at protests blocking Shell’s Corrib gas terminal site in Co Mayo.

A group of protestors opposed to the Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo are occupying the headquarters of Shell Ireland in Dublin today.

Local residents opposed to the Corrib pipeline in north Co Mayo are vowing to maintain an indefinite protest at the site of the Bellanaboy gas terminal.

IT was power versus prayer at the Corrib Gas terminal in Mayo yesterday as one of the world’s largest oil companies was faced down by protesters reciting the rosary.

Supporters of the Rossport Five are to make the final leg of their 300km walk to Dublin today.

NEWS that Shell Ireland will modify the route of its gas pipeline, as well as dropping legal action against five protestors in Mayo, will be widely welcomed.

The Irish subsidiary of the global oil giant Shell has announced that the controversial Corrib gas pipeline will be re-routed.

AS a spokesperson for the Shell to Sea group in Co Mayo, I have commented publicly many times on various aspects of the proposed Corrib gas project, predominantly in relation to site works at Bellanaboy and associated environmental issues.

Protests against Shell Ireland are due to take place at locations across the country today.

Opponents of the Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo are protesting outside the Department of Natural Resources and the headquarters of the global oil firm Shell in Dublin today.