10/09/2008

Gasline Protester Goes On Hunger Strike

A Corrib gasline protestor has announced she is going on hunger strike on Tuesday night.

Maura Harrington, who is reportedly one of the leading campaigners over Shell's gas pipeline plans, began the strike on the arrival of a pipe-laying vessel.

The news comes as new protests are sparked over the controversial plan.

Gardaí arrested three men earlier on Tuesday for public order disturbances, as they protested on their fishing vessels against the laying of the pipeline at Broadhaven Bay.

The Irish government gave Royal Dutch Shell conditional approval to move ahead with its long-awaited Corrib gas pipeline project in 2006, but the plan has met with vigorous protests ever since.

Ms Harrington said she handed a letter in to the captain of one of Shell's vessels yesterday, stating she would continue her action until the vessel leaves.

Protesters began a vigil at the gates of the Shell compound in Glengad in support of Ms Harrington's hunger strike.

In June 2005, five local landowners, dubbed the Rossport Five, were jailed after being held in contempt of court for breaking a High Court injunction, which forced them to allow Shell workers on their lands.

They were release 94 days later, but protests over the plan continue.

(DW/JM)

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