Ógra SF Occupy Station

Saturday July 02, 2005 18:39

by Ógra Shinn Féin

Members of Ógra Shinn Féin occupied the Statoil Filling Station on Northumberland St today.

Members of Ógra Shinn Féin occupied the Statoil Filling Station on Northumberland St today at 4pm. Two activists entered the station shop and chained themselves together while almost two dozen picketed in the forecourt and distributed leaflets to passing motorists.

Ten minutes after the protest began two Gardaí arrived and attempted to force their way into the shop but the two inside managed to keep them out.

Ten minutes later a second Garda car arrived and with two more officers and together they attempted to force their way into the shop. They managed to push the door partially open and then one officer pushed his baton through and used it to force the protestors away from the door, striking one comrade a number of times.

Once inside the Gardaí forcibly ejected the two who joined the picket outside for the remainder of the protest which concluded peacefully a little over an hour after it began.

Support from passing motorists was high and the station was shut down for over an hour while thew protestors were present. I've just got a text that the station is still closed and there's no-one at the station.

This is the second Statoil station closed by Ógra Shinn Féin in as many days and they are committed to continuing these actions until the demands of the Rossport Five are met. Hope to get pictures of this one up on Monday.