Rivals row over Shell protest

A BLISTERING row between Mayo constituency rivals Enda Kenny and Jerry Cowley yesterday saw the Fine Gael leader demand an apology for the “illegal and forced occupation” of his constituency office by anti-Shell campaigners.

However Mr Cowley said Mr Kenny was being “ludicrous” about what was “a peaceful protest” at his office on Friday during which the Fine Gael leader called gardaí.

The bitter row first flared when Henry Kenny - Enda’s brother and Mayo County Council chairman - controversially struck down an agreed motion calling for the Rossport Five to be freed two weeks ago. Since then Mr Cowley and the Fine Gael leader have been engaged in a series of confrontations as anti-Shell campaigners put pressure on Mr Kenny to outline his position on Shell’s Corrib works.

That culminated on Friday when a group of Shell to Sea campaigners including Mr Cowley and two wives of the Rossport Five, picketed Mr Kenny’s clinic demanding a meeting.

In an angry statement issued yesterday Mr Kenny accused the group of “illegally occupying” his office for eight hours and “imprisoning, intimidating and abusing staff”.

Mr Cowley said he was “absolutely amazed” at the statement since the protest had been a peaceful one. “The whole protest was very good natured. Enda Kenny’s staff made tea for the two wives and gave them a radio to listen to.”