THREE MEN and a woman arrested for public order offences amid protests over the Corrib gas pipeline works in Co Mayo were released from custody last night.
This followed the release from custody of three other people - two men and a woman - earlier in the day.
Crab fisherman Pat O'Donnell and his son Jonathan were arrested under the Public Order Act by members of the Garda Water Unit yesterday morning at Broadhaven Bay close to the route of the controversial pipeline.
They were taken to Belmullet Garda station and later released without charge. It was the second time they had been arrested in 24 hours.
Last month the majority of members of the Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association (EIFA) accepted a compensation package from Shell. However, Mr O'Donnell and a number of other fishermen refused the deal, citing health and safety concerns about the project.
Four arrests were made at lunchtime yesterday after a protest at Glengad, Poulathomas, in Ballina.
Three men and a woman were taken into custody at Belmullet and all were subsequently released.
The protesters were expressing their support for national school principal Maura Harrington, who has spent a second night on hunger strike in her locked car at Glengad.
Ms Harrington has said she will not break her strike until Shell pipeline ship, the Solitaire, leaves Irish waters.
Yesterday afternoon, work on the pipeline was suspended after the 300m ship was damaged, Shell said.
The oil company said the "end section" of the Solitaire's pipe-delivery equipment had been damaged during "weather-sensitive" preparatory works.
"At this stage it is too early to comment on how this technical problem arose," Shell said in a statement.
"The offshore pipelay programme in Broadhaven Bay has been suspended until a full assessment of the damaged equipment has been conducted. The Solitaire will return to Killybegs or another harbour for assessment and repair within the next 48 hours."
Shell said it would give a further update "in the coming days".
Later, John Egan of Shell said the suspension of the Solitaire's works had no connection with a letter written to the master of the Solitaire, Simon van der Plicht, in which Ms Harrington said she would die on hunger strike if the ship did not leave Irish waters.
"I can say this had absolutely nothing to do with the protest or the actions of protesters," said Mr Egan.
And in a statement yesterday, the Garda defended their actions in Mayo.
"The Garda role primarily revolves around two key principles," the statement said.
"The first is to ensure that persons who are engaging in lawful activities are allowed do so without interruption, and the second is to allow those who wish to peacefully protest within the law do so unimpeded."
The Dublin Shell to Sea group has said it will travel to the Erris peninsula on Saturday to highlight its concerns.
It has called on the public to show their support by travelling with them or by holding local protests.
However, local group Pro Gas Mayo has condemned the ongoing protests.
"Protesters do not represent the vast majority of the people of Erris, Mayo or Ireland," a spokesman for the group said.
"There are 800 people employed on the project in the area at present and this fact is well borne out by the visible prosperity in the region at present."