Co Mayo protestors demand men's release
Sunday, 3 July 2005 22:11
Up to 1,000 people from north Mayo have protested in Castlebar over the ongoing detention of five men who denied Shell employees access to their lands.
It is the latest in a series of protests over the imprisonment of the men who are objecting to the laying of the high-pressure pipeline across their land.
Members of the men's families and a number of local TDs also took part in the protest.
This afternoon's rally was organised by Independent Mayo TD, Dr Jerry Cowley.
He said the 'mood of abhorrence' at the jailing of the five men was growing nationwide and Shell must compromise on its plan for the pipeline and the onshore terminal, on health and safety grounds.
Shell Ireland has denied that the pipeline presents a hazard to the north Mayo area and has said it has no intention of suspending its work on the Corrib gas project, or of withdrawing from Mayo.
The men are due back in the High Court again on Wednesday when an attempt will be made to have them released from prison.
Five TDs have visited the men at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin, where they were sent on Wednesday.
The men told the TDs there was no question of them abandoning their opposition to the pipeline being laid on their land.
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