Free them and stop hiding behind the law

WE Sinn Féin councillors call on the Government to intervene as a matter of urgency to secure the release of the five Co Mayo protesters known as the Rossport Five.

The Government bent over backwards to create the situation where Shell and its associates could have untrammelled access to the Irish people’s natural resource.

All over the world, and particularly in Nigeria, Shell has shown little concern for human rights in their quest for enormous profits.

The Government should now, late as it is, stand up for its citizens and intervene to secure the release of five Irishmen who are opposing this multinational trampling over their property.

The Government fashioned the situation where people going about their ordinary lives find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

They should stop hiding behind the legal system in order to give unquestioning support to this multinational conglomerate and work instead to secure the rights of the people in Co Mayo.

Toiréasa Ní Fhearáiosa

Mayor, Kerry County Council

Robert Beasley Kerry County Council

Cllr Martin Hallinan Cork County Council

Jonathan O’Brien Cork City Council

Annette Spillane Cork City Council

David Cullinane Waterford City Council

Joe Kelly Waterford City Council

Brendan Mansfield Waterford Co Council

John Desmond Bandon Town Council

Ann O’Leary Bantry Town Council

Liam Walsh Carrick-on-Suir Town Council

Michael Browne Cashel Town Council

Cionnaith Ó Suilleabháin

Clonakilty Town Council

Paul Hayes Clonakilty Town Council

Kieran McCarthy Cobh Town Council

Seamus Coleman Fermoy Town Council

Anthony Curtain Listowel Town Council

Willie O’Regan Mallow Town Council

Gina Hennessy Midleton Town Council

Shamie Morris Nenagh Town Council

Roisín Ó Suilleabháin

Passage West Town Council

Donneaghdha Ó Sé

Skibbereen Town Council

Dave Doran Thurles Town Council

Maisie Houlihan Tralee Town Council

Cathal Foley Tralee Town Council

Sandra McLellan Youghal Town Council.