Shell’s offer of talks refused

LOCAL opponents of the Corrib Gas project in Co Mayo have rejected a Shell Ireland offer to discuss changes to the route of a controversial onshore pipeline while a leading Shell-to-Sea activist remains in jail.

Yesterday, 409 letters were delivered from residents of Kilcommon parish to Shell’s Belmullet offices.

The letters stated opposition to meeting with Shell representatives while local fisherman Pat O’Donnell remains in jail and there continues to be an “imposition” of the Corrib gas project “without community consent”.

The correspondence detailed a number of grievances that members of the local community have with the project, and stated that people are refusing to meet with Shell while what “effectively amounts to ongoing and escalating physical and psychological harassment” continues in the area.

Community spokesperson Éamonn O Murchú said: “As Shell are well aware, there is a lack of trust in them in the wider Kilcommon community caused by Shell’s acknowledged mistakes in its treatment of the community when trying to push through its plans to construct an experimental raw gas pipeline and inland refinery in Erris.”

“Pat O’Donnell is currently incarcerated in Castlerea prison, serving a seven-month sentence. We are deeply angered and upset by his jailing, and this supposed ‘consultation’ is cold comfort to his family and friends at this time.”

He added: “Following a public meeting in Inver on Friday, March 19, it was decided it is not appropriate to meet with Shell or their consultants RPS staff for the duration that Mr O’Donnell is in prison.

“Furthermore, we will not be meeting Shell or RPS staff while the harassment of the community continues. We will not be holding individual or small group meetings.”

Mr O’Donnell is serving a seven-month sentence for using threatening behaviour to a garda during a protest demonstration.

Shell Ireland were yesterday making no comment on the refusal to meet company representatives.