Audio Interview with activist in Rossport (hungerstrike?)

dissident

Audio interview made at 21.30 with Cormac in Rossport about todays developments

Mp3 file, about 9 minutes

http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/...hellcormac.mp3

dissident

For Immediate Release : 9th September 2008 - 10:00pm

Shell to Sea campaigner begins Hunger Strike

This evening Shell to Sea campaigner Maura Harrington has begun a Hunger Strike to coincide with the arrival of the Solitaire, pipe-laying vessel in Broadhaven Bay. In a letter that was handed into the Solitaire in Killybegs yesterday, after being previously sent to Allseas Ltd (owner of the Solitaire), Ms Harrington stated that she placed her life in the hands of the Master of the Solitaire, Mr Simon van der Plicht. In her letter, she stated that her hunger strike will end in one of two ways, either that the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters or her death. A constant vigil has started at the gates of the Shell compound at Glengad in support of Maura Harrington and her opposition to the Corrib Gas Project.

Meanwhile also this evening, the Garda Water Unit boarded 3 fishing boats and arrested the 3 fishermen who were attempting to safeguard their fishing gear which was in Broadhaven Bay. Previously the Department of Agriculture has stated that this was a civil matter between both parties and should be resolved in the courts however with both a heavy Gardaí presence and both the LE Orla and Aoife in Broadhaven Bay, it seems obvious that the State wishes to push this project through by force alone.
For more Information on the fishermens dispute see: http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1901

For verification phone: Maura Harrington - ********* or Terence Conway - **************

Notes: Below are the two letters handed to the Solitaire yesterday.

************************************************** ***********************************

Please be advised that, if and when your vessel, the Solitaire should approach Broadhaven Bay, Co. Mayo - a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds - it is my intention to begin a Hunger Strike to the death. I am aged 54 years 11 months and weigh 6 stone 9lbs. Given my age, weight, medical history (calcified TB since 1980) my death will take place relatively quickly but not painlessly. The toll extracted by eight years of activism to the Shell dictated, State facilitated Corrib Project is a not insignificant factor in hastening my death.

I place my Life or Death in the hands of the master of the Solitaire, Mr Simon van der Plicht. Be under no illusion that this is an idle threat. I will begin my Hunger Strike, as stated if and when The Solitaire approaches Broadhaven Bay - it will end in one of two ways.

1. On written confirmation by Mr van der Plicht that the Solitaire is outside Irish territorial waters, such confirmation to be faxed to Irish Times Marine Correspondent, Ms Lorna Siggins at fax no. +353 91 582184
2. My Death.

Maura Harrington,
Shell to Sea,
Sunday 10th August 2008

************************************************** ************************************

Doohoma,
Ballina,
Co. Mayo,
Ireland

FAO: The Master of the Solitaire, Simon van der Plicht

My name is Maura Harrington. I am Principal of Inver Primary School, situated beside Broadhaven Bay. I am a native of Erris and have spent all my life here.
My sense of personal outrage is driven by the primacy of Place - people come and go in nano seconds; Place endures.
As I write, my husband, who is a professional Public Registered Auditor, is entering his second month of continuous medical attention as a result of injuries sustained while in police custody (of dubious legality) in a matter related to your vessel's presence in Irish waters.
In early July I alerted your company's HQ legal division by phone, fax, email and registered post to the fact that your current contractor, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc) may have been somewhat economical with the truth when engaging the vessel of which you are master to carry out a pipe-lay operation as proposed/contracted.
I requested that my last communication per email to the legal department of Allseas would be brought to your attention. In the absence of any acknowledgement by the legal department of receipt of such I now attach a copy for your attention.

As stated therein, be under no illusion that I am anything other that deadly serious in my intent.

Maura Harrington,
Shell to Sea,
4th Sept, 2008

philologos

What an overreaction don't you think? I hope she snaps out of it and sees some sense.

irish_bob

Jakkass wrote: »

What an overreaction don't you think? I hope she snaps out of it and sees some sense.

i hope she doesnt , shes a crank and another thing , this woman is a principal who never seems to be in school , shes yet another public service drain

carlybabe1

seen a clip on tv3 news yesterday, there was about 10 cops surroundin her car smashin the windows in on top of her, it was nothing short of absolutely disgraceful....regardless of what anyone thinks of her reasons for doing what shes doing, shes doing it in a peaceful manner. If we saw this type of thing going on in another country we'd be screamin human rights abuse etc

irish_bob

i know for a fact that theese nuts have little support even in there own back yard

toiletduck

carlybabe1 wrote: »

seen a clip on tv3 news yesterday, there was about 10 cops surroundin her car smashin the windows in on top of her, it was nothing short of absolutely disgraceful....regardless of what anyone thinks of her reasons for doing what shes doing, shes doing it in a peaceful manner.

I think you'll find that was footage from when she was driving her car AT members of the Gardai. That was a good while back, probably just stock footage of her. Real peaceful like...

Yup, here's a link

Eight gardai were ordered to draw their batons to prevent a car, owned by schoolteacher Maura Harrington, who is on sick leave from her post, being pushed into their ranks.

Protestors used the car as a battering ram by attempting to smash the gardai's blue line. Gardai pulled Ms Harrington from the vehicle after smashing a windscreen.

mike65

Slightly surprised this spammed PR puff by the OP has been allowed tbh.

Mike.

carlybabe1

toiletduck wrote: »

I think you'll find that was footage from when she was driving her car AT members of the Gardai. That was a good while back, probably just stock footage of her. Real peaceful like...

Yup, here's a link

apologies, the clip I saw never mentioned that, it just showed her cringing behind the wheel and the garda smashing the windows. What are they protestin for anyway

irish_bob

carlybabe1 wrote: »

apologies, the clip I saw never mentioned that, it just showed her cringing behind the wheel and the garda smashing the windows. What are they protestin for anyway

maybe because they like it