Dublin Shell to Sea

Today in Castlebar circuit court, appeals involving Shell to Sea campaigners were concluded or deferred, with no further prison sentences being handed out. This follows the jailing yesterday of local fisherman Pat O’Donnell.
 
Terence Conway - who had faced a driving ban of four years for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident – was acquitted.

Commenting on his vindication he said: “I am happy with the outcome of this case. It is clear that I have been selectively targeted by the Gardaí for my opposition to the Corrib Gas Project. My thoughts are with Pat O’ Donnell for whom justice has been denied”.
 
Maura Harrington had faced 19 months imprisonment for district court convictions. Today, a conviction of assault on a Shell security guard was dropped. The penalty for an obstruction conviction was reduced from a custodial sentence to a 2 year driving disqualification. Dangerous driving convictions were reduced to careless driving, resulting in a 6 month disqualification. Sentencing for convictions of trespass and cutting of nets were put off for 12 months.

Commenting on the outcome Maura Harrington said: “Today I found the decision to defer my sentencing for a year rather puzzling. In November last year An Bord Pleanála vindicated our campaign by rejecting Shell’s planned onshore pipeline, and the legality of any installation above the high water mark at Glengad is questionable. We will continue our campaign for the protection of our communities and the country’s natural resources.”
ENDS