Irish Navy arrives in Broadhaven Bay
The Shell to Sea campaign says wildly inaccurate reports recent disturbances in Mayo are part of a campaign of media manipulation. The Daily Mail's Irish edition has led its coverage of the protests with a sensationalist front page story on the arrival of the Irish navy, accompanied by an unatributed quote: "This is the first time we have been used against civilian protesters, says Navy as gunboat is sent to protect Broadhaven Bay pipeline." The Irish Times, meanwhile has run a report not supported by the facts.
The campaign to stop the gas pipeline warns of "stories planted in the press" in an attempt "to smear Shell to Sea campaigners." In particular it cites widely publicised allegations that 'None of the seven was from the Co Mayo area' and that a later arrest of a local man occured '"following an incident when a car was rammed into the gate of the Shell compound at Glengad."
The campaign has issued a point by point rebuttal to the Irish Times report and has demanded a retraction. Whatever about the merits of this, the real issue is attempt to smear the campaign with the suggestion that it is somehow not a "local" protest, being driven by activists from the UK.
Here is the short Irish Times story that Shell to Sea is complaining about.
Garda warns over danger of sea protests
A Garda superintendent has advised demonstrators at the Corrib Gas pipeline site in Co Mayo about the dangers involved in putting to sea in flimsy, unsafe craft.
Supt John Gilligan was speaking yesterday following the release without charge of eight Shell to Sea activists who were arrested at Glengad on Thursday night.
He said some of those arrested had used "blow-up inflatables suitable only for a day at the beach". Eleven small craft from the Solidarity Camp resisted Garda and Navy security personnel for about an hour on Thursday night.
Seven people were arrested in connection with the offshore incidents, five from the UK and two Irish. None of the seven was from the Co Mayo area.Later on Thursday night, a local man was arrested following an incident when a car was rammed into the gate of the Shell compound at Glengad.
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