July 2010

Selected photographs of the triumphant homecoming of a Hero and Friend!

The Chief is free!!

Erris was abuzz with joy and merriment as one of her finest sons, Pat 'the Chief' O'Donnell was freed from Castlerea Prison yesterday after 158 days of Shell-decreed incarceration. He was met by an ecstatic group of well-wishers outside the prison and was piped off the prison precincts after speeches by himself, Maura Harrington, and a message of support from Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, Mayor of Roscommon County Council. 

Pat then returned to his native Porturlin in a motorcade via Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, Castlebar, Foxford, Ballina, Killala and Ballycastle. In Castlebar and Ballina he was piped through the main streets to the appreciation of passers-by. At Glenamoy Cross, Pat left his car to enter the joyful embrace of his friends, neighbours and supporters who had waited several hours for his return. After half an hour there of being welcomed back, Pat and the motorcade made the final leg of the journey home to Porturlin, where the whole village was assembled round a roaring bonfire to welcome their valiant neighbour back to his home patch.

Today, Pat attended the Street Feast outside McGuire's in Pollatomish, and there he thanked the many friends and supporters who kept his spirits up while imprisoned, and the many friends he made while in prison, and reminded people to keep up the support for Niall Harnett, another prisoner of Shell now jailed for his 89th day. the well-attended Street Feast made a fitting end to a most joyful weekend in Erris.

The Chief Abú!

It is sad to see that the “Celtic Tigers” credit rating has today been downgraded by Moodys to Aa2.

Welcome Home Pat

Pat O'Donnell was released this morning from Castlerea Prison at 7:20am. Even to the last, the Prison officials made things as difficult as possible for Pat. The prison officials told Pat that there was a lift outside waiting for him but wouldn't allow him a phone call to confirm this. On leaving the prison there was no lift for him and he was released into the rain.

Yesterday evening at 4pm, prison officials and subsequently the Governor of the Prison went to Pat and told him that he was being released from prison early (1 day) as the prison was “overcrowded”. He was then told that the Minister for Justice had brought forward his release date by a day and he was free to go. Pat refused to leave the prison until he was given this in writing from the Minister for Justice and so spent last night in jail.

Pat O Donnell spent 158 days in Castlerea prison, his full sentence less the amount for being a well behaved prisoner.

He will make his way home after the rally outside Castlerea Prison at 2pm today. 

MAYO’S CHIEF superintendent has appealed to Corrib gas protesters to desist from taking risks on water as Shell undertakes geotechnical work for the proposed new pipeline route.

Chief Supt Tom Curley, head of the Mayo division, confirmed that three arrests had been made this week on Sruwaddacon estuary, where Shell contractors have deployed two jack-up platforms to drill up to 80 boreholes.