Standoff over Corrib pipeline grows

MORE than 100 gardaí, backed by a similar number of private security personnel, were last night involved in a standoff with protesters opposed to Shell’s attempt to lay a pipeline connecting north Mayo to the Corrib gas field.

Two naval ships, several garda vessels and a helicopter were also in the area.

The escalation of the long running dispute followed the arrival of a pipe-laying vessel in Broadhaven Bay.

Over the coming days it is intended that the Solitaire vessel will lay over 80km of steel pipe connecting the gas field to a valve on Glengad beach. Yesterday afternoon a fisherman was arrested as he attempted to lay nets in Broadhaven Bay, and at least one other fisherman was detained and had his boat impounded. This brings to 23 the number of people arrested this month while opposing the project.

John Monaghan, a spokesman for the local group Pobal Chill Chomáin, which is opposed to the pipeline, said: “The law is not being upheld. The local fisherman was arrested as he simply went about his business fishing but he was detained for ‘loitering’. Where are people’s rights?

“The gardaí have serious questions to answer about their behaviour in this and the wider policing of this, they are failing to protect ordinary local’s rights, this is very serious.”

A number of protesters have come into the area ahead of what looks likely to be a key week for those opposed to the Corrib project.

Shell have highlighted the economic benefit to the region of the development but have failed to win over a significant proportion of the local population to the project amid safety concerns.

The confrontation came as former UN assistant secretary general Dennis Halliday called on the Government to renegotiate its deal with Shell over the exploitation of the Corrib gas field, which allows the company to right off all costs prior to paying corporation tax on the profits of the enterprise.

“I think the Irish people are not getting the whole story. These people that object are not troublemakers, are not terrorists.”

He stated that deals with resources companies can be renegotiated “and if it is done properly there could a revenue of €50 billion.”