Rossport women have Roache and Rabbit on the Run

mayo | environment | news report Monday July 04, 2005 23:55 by We Are All Bogonis!

Dail Friday 1st July

The minister for the environment Dick Roche and Labour leader Pat Rabbit got more then the photo opportunity they’d bargained for when they ran into the wives and daughters of the imprisoned men of Rossport outside the Dail on Friday last.

Roache point blankly refused to answer questions from Mary Corduff as to who was responsible for the upstream gas pipeline. When the Mid-West Radio correspondent, Liamy McNally reiterated the question, a by now irritated and angry Roche turned on him, shouting that he knew who McNally was and how dare he question him (peoples representative anyone?). In his rush to exit stage left, he at one point inadvertently squared up to Mary Corduff, before gesticulating to the Dail Gardai to rescue him from the situation. As the Gards cleared a path for him, spokesman for SIPTU’s National Offshore Committee, Padraig Cambell again tried to get a response but Roche refused and quickly scurried his way into the safety of the Dail courtyard with the shouts of ‘shame’ ringing in his ears.

Pat Rabbit was also giving a similar grilling. Local landowner Brid McGarry asked why he had failed to answer letters she had sent him on the gas pipeline over four years ago. The women said that the record of the ‘opposition’ parties on this issue was as dismal as the ruling party who sold our resources for a song. When asked if he would make a commitment to come to Rossport and see the situation for himself, a cornered Rabbit said he would try be there Saturday next. Having waited four long years for some sort of response on the issue, it looks like the people of North Mayo won’t be holding their breath.

Afterwards an impromptu speak out was held with family members of the imprisoned Rossport 5, Sr. Majella McCarron of the Ogoni Solidarity Campaign, Maura Harrington of Shell to Sea, SIPTU spokesman Padraig Cambell and assorted politicos. In the walk back to the four courts to get their bus back to North Mayo the people of Rossport were repeatedly stopped and given messages of support from those on the streets of Dublin.

Anyone who can make it to the high court 10.30 on Wednesday, please come and show your support.