Major Happenings in Rossport as the Solitaire Weighs Anchor Off Glengad

The crap is hitting the proverbial fan as the pipelaying ship the "Solitaire" arrives in Broadhaven Bay in Erris.

Everybody's internet has mysteriously disappeared, at what might be thought to be a very bad time for a communication network to go down.

Maura Harrington, a good friend of mine, is on hunger strike outside the gates of the Shell compound as I type. She says that she'll not eat unless the Solitaire leaves. Newly retired Maura (from a life-long vocation of teaching) is not a young person and my heart goes out to her, her husband Naoise and their children.

More Gardaí have been drafted in, in anticipation of the escalation in protest that the Solitaire will bring with it, and to beat obedience into the people of Mayo and the rest of the protesters where consent is not forthcoming.

The Chief (Pat O'Donnell) and his son have been arrested at sea, under the Public Order Act (I kid you not). Both men in their fishing vessels have been escorted away from their fishing grounds by the Gardaí and out of the way of the Solitaire (just like I predicted in another thread). Currently there is a large group of people outside Bellmullet Garda Station, demanding the release of the two men.

Over the last week or so, Gardaí have thrown caution out the window, with regard to safety in as far as dealing with protesters who've taken to the water, are concerned. It's expected that many more will take to the water as the sun rises in the morning (if not before then) and it will, in my opinion, be a miracle if someone isn't killed or seriously injured.

The media as per usual, are expected to say little or nothing. I look forward to RTE's groundbreaking expose of the whole sordid affair, in another decade or so, when it's safe for them to do so.

So you're there on the spot Hermes - typing away? Can you post any photos

Jesus Hermes, this is nuts. What age is Maura. Sounds like 60 or so. How long has she been not eating? WTF is going on down there. People have rights to protest. Public Order Act my hole.

Is the whole area internet gone ? Any photos ?

Who has RTE by the proverbials ?

Time and place, for anyone who wants to go down there ?

There are some foggy photos posted on Indymedia currently (expecting video footage soon - folks have to go to Bellmullet to use the internet): LINK.

Here's an audio interview with Cormac, a WSM activist currently at Glengad: LINK.Maura's in her 50's ('m not going to be the one who gets it for telling her age). She's a very passionate lady and this scares me as I know she won't back down. She's currently in her car, surrounded by Gardaí and members of the Special Public Order Unit (who's faces are hidden). There's also an all night vigil taking place there too by her friends and family. Yesterday, when the Solitaire was boarded by activists, a letter from Maura was delivered, outlining her plans. They came anyway.

cactus flower wrote:

Time and place, for anyone who wants to go down there ?

If anyone wants to go, they'd be welcomed with open arms. Plenty of room at the camp site and for folks who don't like camping, accomodation can be arranged. Anyone interested, PM me and I'll give a telephone no. so that arrangements can be made.

Is Maura the lady who left her job as principal of the local primary school to go and protest?
I think I heard an interview with her before.

Maura on the left.


Naoise - Maura's husband.

AfricanDave wrote:

Is Maura the lady who left her job as principal of the local primary school to go and protest?
I think I heard an interview with her before.

That's the lady.

I remember hearing an interview with her on the Last Word on Today fm and I was disgusted at the text messages being read out by the presenter saying how she should be ashamed of herself for abandoning the children.
I think the children would have an easier time living without a principal than living with Shell.

RTE news have just reported the arrests, releases and the hunger strike of Maura Harrington on Late TV news.

Another photograph thanks to Indymedia and whoever posted it there.

Are the green frog suits legal? Are they displaying their numbers ?

Who are all those dudes on the gantry ? Surely not Gardaí

S2S Press Release:

For Immediate Release : 9th September 2008 - 10:00pm

Shell to Sea campaigner begins Hunger Strike

This evening Shell to Sea campaigner Maura Harrington has begun a
Hunger Strike to coincide with the arrival of the Solitaire,
pipe-laying vessel in Broadhaven Bay. In a letter that was handed into
the Solitaire in Killybegs yesterday, after being previously sent to
Allseas Ltd (owner of the Solitaire), Ms Harrington stated that she
placed her life in the hands of the Master of the Solitaire, Mr Simon
van der Plicht. In her letter, she stated that her hunger strike will
end in one of two ways, either that the Solitaire leaves Irish
territorial waters or her death. A constant vigil has started at the
gates of the Shell compound at Glengad in support of Maura Harrington
and her opposition to the Corrib Gas Project.

Meanwhile also this evening, the Garda Water Unit boarded 3 fishing
boats and arrested the 3 fishermen who were attempting to safeguard
their fishing gear which was in Broadhaven Bay. Previously the
Department of Agriculture has stated that this was a civil matter
between both parties and should be resolved in the courts however with
both a heavy Gardaí presence and both the LE Orla and Aoife in
Broadhaven Bay, it seems obvious that the State wishes to push this
project through by force alone.
For more Information on the fishermens dispute see: http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1901

For verification phone: Maura Harrington - ********* or Terence Conway - **************

Notes: Below are the two letters handed to the Solitaire yesterday.

*************************************************************************************

Please be advised that, if and when your vessel, the Solitaire should
approach Broadhaven Bay, Co. Mayo - a Special Area of Conservation
(SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds - it is my
intention to begin a Hunger Strike to the death. I am aged 54 years 11
months and weigh 6 stone 9lbs. Given my age, weight, medical history
(calcified TB since 1980) my death will take place relatively quickly
but not painlessly. The toll extracted by eight years of activism to
the Shell dictated, State facilitated Corrib Project is a not
insignificant factor in hastening my death.

I place my Life or Death in the hands of the master of the Solitaire,
Mr Simon van der Plicht. Be under no illusion that this is an idle
threat. I will begin my Hunger Strike, as stated if and when The
Solitaire approaches Broadhaven Bay - it will end in one of two ways.

1. On written confirmation by Mr van der Plicht that the Solitaire
is outside Irish territorial waters, such confirmation to be faxed to
Irish Times Marine Correspondent, Ms Lorna Siggins at fax no. 353 91
582184
2. My Death.

Maura Harrington,
Shell to Sea,
Sunday 10th August 2008

**************************************************************************************

Doohoma,
Ballina,
Co. Mayo,
Ireland

FAO: The Master of the Solitaire, Simon van der Plicht

My name is Maura Harrington. I am Principal of Inver Primary School,
situated beside Broadhaven Bay. I am a native of Erris and have spent
all my life here.
My sense of personal outrage is driven by the primacy of Place - people come and go in nano seconds; Place endures.
As I write, my husband, who is a professional Public Registered
Auditor, is entering his second month of continuous medical attention
as a result of injuries sustained while in police custody (of dubious
legality) in a matter related to your vessel's presence in Irish waters.
In early July I alerted your company's HQ legal division by phone, fax,
email and registered post to the fact that your current contractor,
Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch
Shell plc) may have been somewhat economical with the truth when
engaging the vessel of which you are master to carry out a pipe-lay
operation as proposed/contracted.
I requested that my last communication per email to the legal
department of Allseas would be brought to your attention. In the
absence of any acknowledgement by the legal department of receipt of
such I now attach a copy for your attention.

As stated therein, be under no illusion that I am anything other that deadly serious in my intent.

Maura Harrington,
Shell to Sea,
4th Sept, 2008

cactus flower wrote:

Are the green frog suits legal? Are they displaying their numbers ?

Not all Gardaí have to display numbers, only uniformed Gardaí.

HF, that's a frightening letter. She does come across deadly serious. Surely Mr. Pflicht has to haul anchor tomorrow. Anything else would be ..... what...(apart from shocking) .. unconstitutional ???

What's the story with cutting the internet? Don't mobile phones contact central rallying points now too or is it only a matter of time before the mobiles go too?

Are you using a mobile phone to post all this Hermes ... ?

Auditor #9 wrote:

What's the story with cutting the internet? Don't mobile phones contact central rallying points now too or is it only a matter of time before the mobiles go too?

Are you using a mobile phone to post all this Hermes ... ?

Erris is very 'hilly.' Crap mobile reception unless you're on top of a hill. So even if mobiles were cut, it'd not make much difference.

I'm not in Mayo currently and won't be able to get there for another day or so. Sorry if I gave the impression that I was. Me phone has been going mad for the last 5 or 6 hours, that's why I'm somewhat clued in. I'm playing a waiting game just like everyone else at the moment. If I hear any more, I'll update.

Thanks for your news Hermes. We're here to post any information on what is happening - also background to the campaign and what at this stage the aims of the campaign are. As I remember you saying, there are several groups and they have different ideas but are working together.

Thanks CF.

The muzzled media has gone into overdrive to downplay and spin this issue. Most media sources that have covered the story have said very little about Maura. Others have suggested that the Chief and Co. were arrested during some protest at sea, thus lending an iota of legitimacy to the arrest. Pat O'Donnell has a license to be exactly where he was and thus a right, he was also in Shell's way and that's not the same as protest. If anyone in this particular issue was a protester, it was Shell.

Knowing about the gas interconnector between Ireland and Britain, and remembering what I said in the other thread about the gas from Mayo being available to the highest bidder on the open market, it is interesting to note that there are reports coming in of a British nuclear submarine sneaking around, 11 miles off the Mayo Coast. The British military, without confirming this, have stated that if there is a nuclear submarie stationed off the Mayo coast, it is there with the knowledge and permission of the Irish government. Link to a PDF file from today's Mayo Echo. Read it whilst it's hot (and still available).

Still only getting a byline on RTE.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0910/corrib.html

This is weird.

There was an interview this morning with the lady on hunger strike.

Is it possible to link it to the site?

cactus flower wrote:

There was an interview this morning with the lady on hunger strike.

Is it possible to link it to the site?

What's the address?

Here's the Mayo link from Hermes' post above: