Dublin Shell to Sea

In a reprise of last year's repeated arrests on the waters of Broadhaven Bay, Shell's Gardai have arrested Pat 'the Chief' O'Donnell and his son Jonathan while they were fishing in Broadhaven Bay this morning. Their two boats were commandeered by Gardai and brought to Ballyglass pier under tow and naval escort. Gardai claim that the two boats were 'loitering', the new term for criminalising fishermen exercising their rights to fish in their native waters. Pat's brother Martin is currently still on the water in the bay fishing in his boat. Meanwhile the Solitaire is less than an hour away from arriving off Glengad.

Shell's Gardai blocking access to public beach this morning - 1

Earlier this morning Pat and Jonathan O'Donnell were arrested by Gardai while exercising their right to fish in Broadhaven Bay, waters that Pat and his family have fished for five generations. Gardai boarded the O'Donnells' two vessels, arrested the men for 'loitering', and brought their vessels under tow and naval escort to the nearby pier at Ballyglass. All this happened while Pat and his boat was under Garda 'protection'. Jonathan has been taken to Ballina Garda station, but there is no word as yet of where Pat is detained. Pat's brother Martin is still fishing in the bay at the time of writing.

In another development, a mixed group of thirty-five regular and public order Gardai have taken up a position on the beach adjacent to the Rossport Solidarity Camp, presumably in an attempt to prevent actions happening on the water today. When the Gardai were asked by campers and locals what lawful authority they had to do this they were not answered by any Garda.

The pipe-laying ship the Solitaire is due to arrive in Broadhaven Bay in an hour or so, as of the time of writing. The arrest of the fishermen and their processing by Gardai in distant stations is a blatant attempt to facilitate Shell's project works in the bay with every underhanded method at their disposal. If there ever was a time to get to Mayo to support this community fighting back against state corruption and corporate greed it is now!

Related Link: http://www.corribsos.com

Shell's Gardai blocking access to the public beach this morning - 2

First posted to indymedia.ie by FSB

by anarchaeologist 

The Solitaire is visible on the radar just over the horizon to the northwest of the Stacks of Broadhaven. Two boats are still fishing in the vicinity, as is their legal right. The Irish tax payer is paying for the several RIBs buzzing around, protecting corporate theft on a grand scale. 

There's a heavy police/I-RMC presence on-shore, with access to the public beach completely blocked off. For the moment we've confined the Public Order Unit within the Glengad compound. However, this unit has the support of several I-RMS squads and their handlers (themselves trained by the Irish state as Army Rangers). The Irish Navy are out there too of course. It's mad.

Things are tense but spirits are good. 

For just how long do they think they're going to get away with this?

Pat O'Donnell was released from Garda custody earlier this afternoon; it is not known if he has been charged with anything. his son Jonathan has been taken to a sitting of the District Court in Westport at 3:15 this afternoon. We have received no news as yet concerning what he has been charged with, or whether he has been released from custody yet. The second of testerday's arrestees has made arrangements to be released soon from the 'care home' in which they were held. They are reported to be safe and well. About one hour ago, it was reported locally that a navy rib was about to approach Tony O'Donnell's fishing boat in Broadhaven Bay (correction: It was Tony and not Martin that was out fishing today, our apologies) but the outcome of this encounter is not known yet (no answer from Tony's phone).
The 40-or-so Gardai remain on the beach blocking access to the water, and there are more gardai on the road across from the gates of the Solidarity Camp. The Solitaire is reported currently to be at anchor about 12 nautical miles from shore somewhere near the Stags of Broadhaven.

More Shell boats and planes about in Erris - more updates

 by FSB! - Rossport Solidarity Camp Thu Jun 25, 2009 18:46

There are now two Irish naval service vessels in Broadhaven Bay. The LE Orla arrived this morning to complement the already-arrived Shell War Boat the LE Emer. Indymedia.ie readers without long-enough memories can have them refreshed by clicking the link at the end of the post. Added to this is the presence in the skies of the Garda helicopter, spotted over Broadhaven Bay at 5:15pm approx. It just shows the lengths that the Irish state is prepared to go to defend a corrupt deal that robs us all of our rightful wealth and that robs the directly-affected communities of their safety and their beautiful environment.

In other news, Jonathan O'Donnell (Pat O'Donnell's son and fellow fisherman) is being held in remand overnight in Castlerea prison following an appearance in Westport District Court this afternoon. He is being charged with 'loitering', presumably under section 8.1.b of the Public Order Act. Johnathan was taken by Shell's Gardai from his place of work in Broadhaven Bay this morning to Ballina Garda station, then on to a court appearance in Westport, and then to a remand cell in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. There is a cruel nickname for this kind of treatment of captives from the criminal injustice system of the United States - they call it 'diesel therapy'. One more inhuman tactic employed by Shell's Gardai to attempt to break opposition to the iniquitous Corrib Gas Project.

A new arrival but an old 'friend' - Shell War Boat Orla

Three Shell boats - a winching barge and two War Boats

Shell's eye in the sky - the Garda helicopter in the skies over the bay