Dempsey urged to act as five jailed over pipeline row

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Noel Dempsey last night faced demands to intervene in the escalating dispute over a gas pipeline in Co Mayo that has resulted in five protesters being jailed for breaching a court order.

The multinational oil company, Shell, yesterday succeeded in its application to have five protesters imprisoned for breaching an injunction preventing them from blocking the construction of the gas pipeline in the village of Rossport in Erris, Co Mayo.

Amid a welter of protests to the decision from friends and families of the five men, and from opposition politicians, Mr Dempsey declined to intervene either to seek the release of the men or to find a speedy resolution to the dispute.