Pipeline safety auditor ‘linked’ to Shell

A BRITISH company that won a State contract to carry out an independent safety review of Shell’s pipeline plans for North Mayo was not asked whether it had any business dealings with Shell.

As the “Rossport Five” began their second week in jail for opposing the pipeline, it emerged that AEA Technology has regularly worked with Shell, but Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey did not ask the company to disclose this information.

It is the second time a review has been carried out by a company with links to Shell. Mr Dempsey bowed to pressure to commission the second review after it emerged the first was carried out by BPA (British Pipeline Agency), a company part-owned by Shell UK.