Rossport Five call on Shell to lift pipeline injunction

The five Co Mayo men jailed for obstructing work on the controversial Corrib gas pipeline have reiterated their call on the global oil giant Shell to lift the injunction it has secured against them.

The men were jailed seven weeks ago for refusing to obey the injunction ordering them not to interfere with work on the pipeline that is due to be laid on their land.

In an open letter today, they said they wanted to accept Shell's offer of talks on the issue and called on the company to lift the injunction so they can leave prison and attend those talks.

Shell has previously refused to do so, saying the men can secure their own release by agreeing to obey the injunction.

However, Mark Garavan, a spokesman for the protestors, said this would never happen.

"The men cannot purge their contempt in the context where that injunction remains in place because to do so would be to bind their hands," he said.

"It would forbid them from engaging in any protest against Shell in the future in connection with the pipeline and that is simply unrealistic given that that is at the core of the dispute in the first place."