Campaigner faces court for symbolic protest at Minster Ryan’s Department.

Press release

Issued by Dublin Shell to Sea

Monday, 05 July 2010

For immediate release.

Campaigner faces court for symbolic protest at Minster Ryan’s Department.

Shell to Sea campaigner Stewart Reddin will appear in front of the District Court in Dublin on Tuesday 6^th July at 12:00.

Former Shell to Sea campaigner, Minister Eamon Ryan has charged Mr. Reddin with minor public order offences after he joined three others in a symbolic peaceful protest at Minister Ryan’s Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources on Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.

The symbolic protest took place on Friday 21st May. Mr Reddin and three others draped themselves in chains inside the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in order to symbolise the ongoing imprisonment of Erris fisherman and prominent Mayo Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O’Donnell.

Caoimhe Kerins of Dublin Shell to Sea, who also took part in the protest that day said, “When the Rossport 5 were in prison, Eamon Ryan stood on the street and protested with us. Since he has gone into office he has tried to disassociate himself from Shell to Sea. Now he is having charges pressed against a campaigner for peaceful and symbolic protest. It is unbelievable.”

Ends

For further information or verification please contact:

Caoimhe Kerins           

Notes to Editor

1. Pat O’Donnell is a 52 year-old Erris fisherman and prominent Shell to Sea campaigner in Mayo. In the months leading up to his imprisonment he endured a sustained campaign of harassment both from the Gardaí and Shell’s private security firm I-RMS. In the most serious incident last June, four masked men boarded Mr. O’Donnell’s fishing boat, held him and his crewman at gunpoint, and proceeded to sink the boat. Both men were lucky to escape with their lives.

2. Shell to Sea is a national campaign with active groups based across Ireland. The Shell to Sea campaign has three main aims. 1) To renegotiate the terms of the Great Oil and Gas Giveaway, which sees Ireland’s 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent* off the West Coast go directly to the oil companies, with the Irish State retaining a 0% share, no energy security of supply and only 25% tax on profits against which all costs can be deducted. 2) To have the Corrib gas field exploited in a safe way that will not expose the local community in Erris to unnecessary health and safety risks. 3) To seek justice for the human rights abuses suffered by Shell to Sea campaigners due to their opposition to Shell’s proposed inland refinery.