Anniversary of pipeline protesters' jailing marked

A number of events are planned for Co Mayo today to mark the first anniversary of the imprisonment of the Rossport Five. The Shell to Sea group – which opposes petroleum giant Shell’s plans to exploit Ireland’s natural gas reserves – is to hand a letter of protest into Mayo County Council.Protesters will then travel to the village of Straide to lay a wreath at the grave in Straide of social campaigner and Irish patriot Michael Davitt, before a motorcade makes it way to Glengad, Rossport and onto Bellanaboy for a barbecue and music.The group said the issues that led to the imprisonment of the five men for breaching a court order to stop obstructing work on the Shell Corrib gas pipeline remain unresolved.
“Despite their claims, Shell, Statoil and Marathon continue to refuse to listen to the demands of the communities directly affected by their proposed project in North Mayo,” said Dr Mark Garavan, group spokesman. “The resolve and determination of the communities is stronger than ever before,” he added.Dr Garavan stressed Shell to Sea supported in principle the Corrib gas project but were unhappy with the benefits secured for locals and the country as a whole.“It is time for Shell and the Government to listen to the people and completely reconfigure this project,” he said.