Shell disruption - No support for protests

People have a democratic right to protest against decisions or developments that they do not like, or think will be harmful for their community.

But such protests become unacceptable when they involve illegal or criminal behaviour.

Everybody is unlikely to agree on anything, but just because some people disagree with something should not mean that it should therefore be scrapped. This would lead to public paralysis and utter stagnation. Moreover, it would be a recipe for chaos.

Protecting Shell’s operations in north Mayo is estimated to cost €11 million annually. This is intolerable, but nobody should be in any doubt that those responsible for this waste of resources are the people who are prepared to use criminal methods to get their selfish way.

They are not representative of the people of Mayo, or any other decent people in this country.

History is replete with examples of how tolerating lawless intimidation only breeds further dangerous and irresponsible intimidation.