This article is from page 2 of the 2006-11-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
TWO Claremen were injured following serious confrontations involving gardaí and members of the Shellto-Sea campaign near the village of Rossport in County Mayo last Friday.
More than 20 members of the Clare Shell-to-Sea organisation travelled to Mayo to take part in twin demonstrations at the Corrib gas terminal at Bellanaboy and at the nearby Lennon’s Quarry.
Clare Shell-to-Sea spokesman, Tony Kirby, received minor injuries following the protest at Lennon’s Quarry.
“The gardaí came to clear the protesters and kicked several people while they were on the ground. One man received a fractured nose from a guard as well as a black eye and concussion,” said Mr Kirby.
“He claims to have been kicked by a guard when he was on the ground. I didn’t see him get kicked, but I saw the guard drag him to his feet, get him in a headlock and drag him 200 yards along the road before three guards threw him into a field over barbed wire.”
A second Clare protester, Niall Harnett, was injured while attempting to film the protest at Lennon’s Quarry. Mr Harnett claims that three gardaí broke his digital camera before throwing him to the ground and kicking him in the face and head.
“I went to Bellanaboy after the incident at Lennon’s Quarry and, from speaking to people there, it did seem that Maura Harrington’s car was pushed towards the guards which I believe was wrong,” continued Mr Kirby.
“The response was very excessive. For some reason, they decided to use their batons which was completely excessive for what we considered to still be a very peaceful protest.
“I think that the guards are out of control and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.”
A spokesperson from the Garda Press Office declined to comment about individual injuries sustained during Friday’s protest, but did confirm that a baton charge was ordered and a number of gardaí and protesters received injuries.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Mr Harnett gained a High Court injunction last Tuesday, November 7, preventing gardaí at Belmullet Garda Station from selling his car, which was seized at the Bellanaboy site on October 21.
Mr Harnett, with an address in Liscannor, will appear at the High Court on December 1, where he will seek the return of his car and an award of costs for the trial.