Dempsey orders new safety review of Corrib pipeline

Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey has ordered a new safety review of the planned Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo.

The move is designed to end a stand-off between local residents and the global oil giant Shell about the controversial structure.

The residents want gas from the Corrib field to be pumped to an offshore terminal rather than being brought directly onshore via a high-pressure pipeline.

Five of them have already been imprisoned for breaching a court injunction ordering them not to obstruct work on the pipeline.

They are particularly concerned that no independent safety assessment has been carried out on the structure and claim Shell is carrying out work without ministerial consent.

The five men could be freed when their case comes back before the High Court today.

Shell has offered to add a stipulation to the injunction against them promising not to undertake any work on the laying of the pipeline until ministerial consent has been granted.