Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Monday March 27, 2006 17:28 by Justice Delayed

Justice Finnegan defers judgement again- April 7th set as new hearing date.

A large group of Shell to Sea activists gathered at the Four Courts at 10AM this morning to show support for the Rossport 5, whose case was set for a hearing.

Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, President of the High Court, was set to deliver his final judgement on the matter of the men refusing to "purge their contempt", when they did not agree to abide by an injunction brought by Shell Exploitation Ireland Ltd, which would have prevented protests against the company's scheme to install a dangerous experimental pipeline through the small village of Rossport in North Mayo.

Since the injunction was dropped by Shell on September 30th last year, the men applied to be released from prison where they had been held for 94 days in high security conditions. They were granted temporary release, but Mr Justice Finnegan has said that he will give a final judgement on whether the men should have some sanction applied to them for refusing to obey a high court injunction.

Lawyers for the five have already argued that it would be inhumane to impose a punitive sanction as the men have already served such a long time in prison.

The matter was again adjourned, this time set for April Seventh, the last day of the legal term.

A large contingent of corporate media were present this morning at the court. Supporters of Sinn Féin, the Green Party and the Socialist Workers Party were also in attendance.

The men and their wives received a standing ovation when they attended the Green Party Annual Convention in Kilkenny at the weekend. Micheál Ó Seighin spoke on the platform before the leader's address on Saturday.