SLIGO SUPPORTERS of the Shell to Sea Campaign mounted a protest at the Carraroe Retail Park in Sligo last evening (Monday 30th July), where a large Tunnel Boring machine was parked in a cordoned off portion of the public car park.
The machine, which the Shell multinational company intends to use to bore a 4.2 metre tunnel through Sruwaddacon estuary, Erris, in North Mayo, was carried on a number of heavy lorries and was under heavy security.
Over 100 uniformed Gardai and Special branch officers in addition to approximately 60 private security personnel travelled with the motorised convoy as it departed the Retail Park for Mayo shortly after 9.00.p.m. last night.
Cllr Declan Bree, who participated in the protest against the convoy said, “The people of Erris and North Mayo have made it clear that they don’t want Shell to put a highly pressurised pipeline for untreated gas in the midst of their community with the consequent risk of explosion and the danger to themselves, their families, and their community.
“They have been intimidated, threatened and even jailed for daring to stand up for their community.
“Throughout this ongoing ordeal these people continue to demonstrate strength, dignity and courage in the face of enormous adversity.
“In doing so they have inspired people from all over Ireland to reclaim the power that we hold as individuals, citizens and communities.
“The Shell to Sea campaign is essentially a campaign of the people versus corporate power. It is about our values and our natural resources; it is about our rights and our natural heritage. It is about the right of communities to live in a safe, peaceful and healthy environment.
“The issue is not only about processing the gas at sea. It’s also about the issue of who controls our natural resources. In the current economic climate there can be no excuse for allowing multinational oil and gas companies to continue making obscene profits immune from taxation while ordinary people are expected to take all the pain
“This evening by our presence on this protest we are calling for the protection of our natural resources and we are expressing our solidarity with the people of Erris and Rossport.” said Cllr Bree.