2 Tractor Actions Cause 4 Hour Delay, Thursday 7th April

mayo | environment | news report Saturday April 09, 2011 09:41 by Rossport Solidarity Camp - ShellToSea rossportsolidaritycamp at gmail dot com 0851141170

Campers at the Solidarity Camp occupy the roof of a Shell Tractor, then in another incident a 3rd camper locks on to the chassis. Shell work is delayed for 4 hours.

Thursday 7th April was a glorious day. Campers went to work on the new Solidarity Camp. They heard a tractor moving down the road toward the Aughoose compound carrying bogmats, the linked sleepers used for transport over bogland. The campers downed tools and went out to block it. 2 campers rapidly climbed to the roof where they remained comfortably seated for the next 2 hours.
Gardai who had been milling around for most of this time were joined by Special Branch members. Several campers and locals who had been watching from the grass verge were manhandled away under the eyes of a Daily Mail reporter who was present.
Several gards then climbed up the tractor to remove the campers on the roof. They did this none-too-gently using none of the recommended safety precautions. Instead of using the scaffolding legally required they bodily picked the campers up, despite protested fears for safety, and passed them roughly to the ground. They were then manhandled to Gardai van, placed under arrest and driven to Belmullet Gardai station where they were released without charge.

Later a 3rd camper locked on by neck to the chassis of another tractor. This action delayed work for 2 hours before the individual was surrounded by a visibility proof tent and cut out. Again after being arrested and taken to Belmullet Gardai Station this individual was released without charge.

Today, Saturday 9th April sees a large protest at the Gardai station in Belmullet. This is in sympathy with all women who have suffered Gardai abuse, but especially in light of the recent tape leak.