Protestors block entrance to Shell office

PROTESTORS yesterday blockaded the entrance to Shell’s Irish headquarters with bicycles as part of an international campaign against the Corrib gas pipeline.

The construction of the pipeline in North Mayo was suspended last year after a determined campaign which saw five men from Rossport spend 94 days in jail.

The Shell to Sea group protested outside Shell’s headquarters in Dublin to highlight the re-opening of its solidarity camp in Rossport.

Camp spokesman Bob Kavanagh said: “We want to stand beside the locals and help them as much as we can until the aims of the campaign are achieved.”

Protesters chained bicycles together to blockade the entrance, chalked slogans on the pavement and paraded with posters.

One garda was present but there were no disturbances.

Other protests are taking place over the weekend in Cork, Clare, Kerry and in Sweden.

Mr Kavanagh said he hoped more than 60 people would support the solidarity camp, which will be situated at the point where the gas is due to come ashore.

The previous camp was closed down last year due to the suspension of work on the gas pipeline and the adverse weather conditions.

The protesters are appealing for donations of warm clothing, bedding, construction materials, tools and caravans.

The Shell to Sea group is calling for the gas to be processed offshore rather than brought through a pipeline to an in-land refinery.

The Rossport Five have withdrawn their co-operation with the mediator appointed to the dispute, after claiming Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey was interfering in the process.

He is considering whether to grant Shell permission to resume construction of the pipeline, following a report which raised questions into the risks it could pose to local residents.

Green Party TD Eamon Ryan, who attended yesterday’s protest, said Mr Dempsey should consider the situation very carefully.

“No one is saying the gas shouldn’t come ashore, it’s just to make sure it comes ashore in a safe manner. It has to be done in a very open, consultative way with local people,” he said.

Shell to Sea member Rory Hearne brought his one-year-old son Leo to the protest.

“He’s been on a few protests before. I just think it’s important to be here. Irish people are seeing very little of the profits made by Shell,” he said.