GARDAÍ AND protesters opposed to Shell’s Corrib gas pipeline have clashed in Co Mayo ahead of a weekend of events planned by the Shell to Sea campaign.
The clashes, described by some sources as “more robust than we’ve seen for a while”, were the first physical altercations witnessed by a human rights monitor appointed by Amnesty to examine protests and the policing operation surrounding the Shell project.
About 25 protesters tried to gain access to a site at Aghoose near Belmullet in west Mayo yesterday morning.
The site is one of a number of locations where work is due to begin on laying an underground pipe that will bring gas ashore from the Corrib fields to Shell EP Ireland’s on-shore refinery.
It is understood that just after 8.30am about 25 protesters cut through the external fence at the site and were challenged by gardaí and Shell security contractors as they attempted to cut through a second fence.
There were scuffles between the protesters and gardaí, and one protester was arrested as the site was cleared. The man has been charged by gardaí and released pending a court appearance.
Sarah Bassiuoni, a full-time human rights monitor appointed by Amnesty and FrontLine to examine the Shell protest, took up residence in the area in recent weeks.
Yesterday’s protests were believed to have been the first robust physical altercation between gardaí and protesters she has witnessed.
The clashes, the first serious exchanges for many months, came ahead of the Party Against The Pipe Festival being held in the west Mayo area this weekend by those opposed to the gas pipeline.
Gardaí expect protester numbers in the area to increase over the weekend and have put public order contingency plans in place.
