Legal moves to free five gas pipeline protesters

LEGAL moves are to be made tomorrow that could lead to the release of the five County Mayo men jailed indefinitely for attempting to block the Shell Corrib pipeline from going through their land.

The men from the Rossport area of North Mayo, who have been in Cloverhill Prison in Dublin since Wednesday last, are insisting that the gas be treated offshore before being passed through the pipeline.

Solicitor Greg Casey, who represents Rossport resident Monica Muller and environmental activist Peter Sweetman, is seeking to have the court order that resulted in the men being jailed either changed or discharged on the basis that Shell does not have the necessary consents that it claimed to have at the earlier court hearing in April. “We don’t have a difficulty in Shell marking out the route of the pipeline, but we don’t want the pipe installed,” Mr Casey said yesterday.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has confirmed that while it has issued consents for preparatory work on the pipeline, no consent had yet been given for installing and commissioning the structure.

If Mr Casey’s application is successful it could give both sides time to consider their positions. Both Mr Sweetman and Ms Muller have complied with the court order but are still objecting to the installation of the pipeline.

Ms Casey said Ms Muller’s house backed onto the sea front so her only exit crossed over the proposed route of the pipeline.

A full hearing of all the issues involved is due to begin in October.

Meanwhile, Shell has said it is concerned at the level of “misinformation and myths” that have been circulated in relation to the Corrib Gas pipeline. While the pipeline has been designed for a pressure of 345 bar, it would never run at this level.

“It is deeply regrettable that the unfounded fears of some landowners have been recklessly stoked by some who must bear some of the responsibility for the current situation,” the company stated.

However, Independent TD Dr Jerry Cowley said the community could only be assured that the pipeline was safe if only clean gas was passed through it.

Dr Cowley pointed out the Gulf Oil Corporation and then government were insisting that the Whiddy Island oil terminal was perfectly safe until 50 people were blown to smithereens. “We don’t want that to happen to the families living in Co Mayo. That is the bottom line,” he stressed.