McDowell has been forced to admit that he made a mistake in deporting Palmerstown student Olunkunle Eluhanle and is now bringing him back from Nigeria. He is giving him a six month visa to remain in Ireland to do his Leaving Cert. This is obviously due to the immense amount of effort put into this campaign by the Palmerstown Community School students and Residents against Racism, who together forced this issue.

They kept this issue alive in the media, which led to all of the oppostion parties, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Teachers Union of Ireland, Integrating Ireland and different schools around the country among others, all coming out against the deportation.

What needs to be done now is that all of those on that flight should be brought back. It is known that there were serious human rights abuses in the airport before the plane took off. It is known that some of those on the plane were unable to get in contact with their solicitors to get an injunction put in against their deportation. Also five children have been effectively orphaned in Ireland due to McDowell deporting their mothers. All of those on that plane should be brought back.

Also it must be ensured that Olunkunle Elunhanle is given permanent residency rights in Ireland - not just a six month visa.

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Dail Protest Photo Essays / Video / Audio / Links to Related Stories
Original Indymedia Report on Deportations

Update: Comprehensive Court Report

Over the past few months there have been attempts by Shell personnel to enter the lands of residents in Rossport, north west Mayo, to mark out an upstream pipeline route for the Corrib Gas project.

Seven landowners – who own 50% of the land the pipeline is to go on - are refusing Shell access. Today some of them will be facing High Court injunction proceedings aimed at preventing them from going to those parts of their land which Shell wish to use.

The injunction process began on March 1st, the last occasion Shell tried to get on the lands, Liamy McNally of local radio station ‘Mid-West Radio’ was there and the following 15 minute extract is from his recording of the several hours long stand off.

Paul Gallagher and Geoff Phillips from Shell will be heard along with Rossport residents Willie Corduff, Monica Muller, Vincent McGrath and others. The report starts with Shell employee, Jim Nevin appealing to landowner Philip McGrath. Shell Vs Rossport

The report is copyrighted to Mid West Radio, thanks to Liamy for giving it to us, and to the lads in UL who changed the format.

For background see: Shell in Mayo: Summary of the Issues