Government must act now and undo Corrib gas giveaway

THE hunger strike undertaken by Maura Harrington was a frightening climax to years of non-violent protest on the part of a small community who wish to safeguard their children’s health and safety against the powerful oil companies.

The State has shamefully used its police force and navy to try to silence that protest by giving its full backing to Shell’s money-making exploits.

We are indeed a passive and downtrodden people to have allowed the State to give away our gas for absolutely nothing to these entrepreneurs and to allow the oil companies not only to take the gas for nothing but also to give back not one single cent to the Irish people after they have extracted their spoils. Instead they have attempted to buy local support by giving handouts to very deserving charities and popular sporting clubs or individuals in the area.