July 2014

Author of Hillsborough report recommends non-statutory review of evidence

A man injured during protests against Shell’s inland gas refinery at Bellanaboy, Co Mayo, in November 2006 is removed by ambulance. Photograph: Eric Luke.

The Queen’s University Belfast academic who exposed the South Yorkshire police handling of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster has supported calls for a full review of the policing of the Corrib gas project in north Mayo.

Criminologist Prof Phil Scraton says international concern about Garda handling of opposition to the gas project reflects a belief that it has “moved beyond a series of specific incidents to something of much greater institutional consequence”.

He considers that the policing of the gas project from late 2006 merits a non-statutory review of all available documentation, which could be a prelude to a full statutory inquiry.

According to a report published earlier this evening by the Irish Examiner, it appears that Shell has been cleared of bribing the Irish police.

Under the circumstances I will expect libel writs in the post from those police officers who I have named as being involved in the corruption which took place. 

Should I be worried? Not at all. 

The verdict of no evidence is in line with the previous internal investigation results by the Irish Police and Shell.

THE Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has confirmed to The Mayo News it is finalising its report about allegations by a former Shell contractor that Belmullet gardaí were given booze bribes. The allegations by services company, OSSL, have been reported in local, national and international media and were the subject of an internal inquiry by Shell and two Garda investigations.

Journalist says attempts still being made to ‘blacken’ whistleblowers