News

No apology over Mayo gas pipeline order

Monday, 11 July 2005 22:06

The five Co Mayo men jailed for contempt of court in relation to the Shell Corrib gas pipeline are back in Cloverhill Prison tonight.

The men appeared in court earlier today but failed to apologise to the High Court or undertake to abide by an order that restrains interference with the development of the pipeline.

In a move to try and clear the way for the men's release from prison, lawyers sought a variation of the existing order to delete the words 'construction' and 'installation'.

The men say on affidavit that their opposition to the gas pipeline is based on concerns that its installation on their lands will pose a significant risk of an explosion, but if the order was varied they could express regret at having disobeyed the order.

They are also seeking an order restraining Shell from carrying out any installation work through their lands without ministerial consent.

Shell says it is prepared to agree to an addition to the existing order that no works would be carried out without the consent of the minister under the Gas Acts.

The application has now been adjourned to Thursday and the men have returned to prison.

But the President of the High Court, Justice Joseph Finnegan, told the men that it seemed a ludicrous proposition that someone would come to court looking for an injunction when they themselves are in flagrant breach of an existing injunction.