Shell to Sea disrupt Community Protest

schween

Has anyone noticed this in the letters page of the Galway Advertiser?

Last week Margaretta D'Arcy from Shell to Sea wrote a letter to the Advertiser (Page 64, Oct. 22nd) complaining that the Gardaí tried to stop them having a peaceful protest. She asked whether the reason the young Garda was on the lookout for a threat was because the people might notice a connection between the gas field and the cuts and that's why the young Garda wanted Shell to Sea out of the protest. As usual, they paint a picture of oppression by the Gardaí.

Then this week (Page 50, Oct.29th), Tommy Flaherty from the Ballybane Community Forum, one of the organisers of the event, paints an entirely different picture. He describes how it was a quite peaceful protest against Govt cutbacks which was hijacked by Shell to Sea with loud blaring music and intimidation towards Gardaí and protesters from the Community group. He says they asked that Shell to Sea be removed from the protest as they weren't a part of the group but the Gardaí were abused as were they themselves.

What do ye think about all this? Was anyone here at the protest?

EDIT: Here are links Margaretta D'Arcys letter http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/18245
Tommy Flahertys letter http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/18513

Robbo

Gas that has yet to be landed and won't be landed for some time is the solution to the current budget deficit? They have to wonder why people won't take them seriously. It's that kind of semi-autistic reasoning that ruins any point Shell to Sea have and makes them a totem of idiotic misplaced rage around which sane people gather and laugh.

inisboffin

To be honest, I have heard conflicting reports from *people I know* who were at that demonstration. I wasn't there, so now I am taking both letters with a grain of salt.

WOODMOUNT

My wife witnessed this incident herself and the second letter is accurate,
and she praised the garda present for his self control.

big b

Many people gave support to the Shell to Sea campaign, when they thought that's what it was - a campaign to have an offshore platform for processing, rather than onshore.
Now it's quite clearly, imho, simply another anti Shell, anti globalisation and anti-government hatefest.

I've posted on enough previous threads about STS already, suffice to say I don't have a great deal of respect for them.

?Cee?view

I read both letters.

I don't know Tommy Flaherty or his track record on issues and protesting.

I do know of Margaretta Darcy (Radio Pirate Woman) and her long well self-publicised record of protesting on many different issues.

I believe Tommy Flaherty's version and I commend all at the protest who didn't rise to the taunts of Shell to Sea and their associated rabble rousers.

baaaa

People protesting gov't cutbacks in today's climate is about as thick as it gets.It's this me fein mentality that has us where we are,and it will bankrupt us if we keep indulging it.

No matter what people think of shell to sea at least their hearts are in the right place,these ejits protesting are just doing it coz they're selfish and not very good at simple economics.

?Cee?view

baaaa wrote: »

No matter what people think of shell to sea at least their hearts are in the right place,

I agree with the rest of your post, but I'd question the above.

baaaa

churchview wrote: »

I agree with the rest of your post, but I'd question the above.

Why so?
What do you see their intentions as?

?Cee?view

Frankly, I'd say many of them are unclear as to their intentions.

It seems that many have wider political agendas and radical political backing. Some of the prominent protestors have well documented connections. Many of the locals who are in support of the development have been subject to intimidation and harassment. Upwards of 1000 people now work on the site.

I think that the tactics used (violence, intimidation) have long since usurped any positive environmental concerns.

Sorry OP and Mods - Didn't want to go Off Topic, but just responding to the question.

baaaa

churchview wrote: »

Frankly, I'd say many of them are unclear as to their intentions.

It seems that many have wider political agendas and radical political backing. Some of the prominent protestors have well documented connections. Many of the locals who are in support of the development have been subject to intimidation and harassment. Upwards of 1000 people now work on the site.

I think that the tactics used (violence, intimidation) have long since usurped any positive environmental concerns.

Sorry OP and Mods - Didn't want to go Off Topic, but just responding to the question.

Some may have broader agendas alright,but I'm not sure that I'd say their hearts are in the wrong place.

Obviously there has been violence and imtimidation on both sides but surely that's part and parcel.

?Cee?view

baaaa wrote: »

but surely that's part and parcel.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that.

Fuinseog

schween wrote: »

Has anyone noticed this in the letters page of the Galway Advertiser?

Last week Margaretta D'Arcy from Shell to Sea wrote a letter to the Advertiser (Page 64, Oct. 22nd) complaining that the Gardaí tried to stop them having a peaceful protest. She asked whether the reason the young Garda was on the lookout for a threat was because the people might notice a connection between the gas field and the cuts and that's why the young Garda wanted Shell to Sea out of the protest. As usual, they paint a picture of oppression by the Gardaí.

Then this week (Page 50, Oct.29th), Tommy Flaherty from the Ballybane Community Forum, one of the organisers of the event, paints an entirely different picture. He describes how it was a quite peaceful protest against Govt cutbacks which was hijacked by Shell to Sea with loud blaring music and intimidation towards Gardaí and protesters from the Community group. He says they asked that Shell to Sea be removed from the protest as they weren't a part of the group but the Gardaí were abused as were they themselves.

What do ye think about all this? Was anyone here at the protest?

EDIT: Here are links Margaretta D'Arcys letter http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/18245
Tommy Flahertys letter http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/18513

you cannot reason with shell to sea. these militant hippies should batoned out of existence. they are against teh government and state, zet are not above taking welfare cheques. do any of them actually work?

Fuinseog

baaaa wrote: »

Some may have broader agendas alright,but I'm not sure that I'd say their hearts are in the wrong place.

Obviously there has been violence and imtimidation on both sides but surely that's part and parcel.

they are against the people of Mayo having jobs.

By the way, i bet you the socialist workers Party were at the community protest as well. they never miss out on a protest, no matter how small.

WOODMOUNT

Fuinseog wrote: »

you cannot reason with shell to sea. these militant hippies should batoned out of existence. they are against teh government and state, zet are not above taking welfare cheques. do any of them actually work?

+1

WOODMOUNT

Fuinseog wrote: »

they are against the people of Mayo having jobs.

By the way, i bet you the socialist workers Party were at the community protest as well. they never miss out on a protest, no matter how small.

+1

inisboffin

Yet again, the sweeping generalisations of (insert collective noun - protesters, minorities etc) really engenders my sympathy to a particular viewpoint.

Not.:rolleyes:

galwayrush

Thankfully the media in general are not interested much anymore in the Shell to Sea/protest against anything twats .

JIZZLORD

speaking of radical protest groups, how are gaaw getting on?

baaaa

Fuinseog wrote: »

you cannot reason with shell to sea. these militant hippies should batoned out of existence. they are against teh government and state, zet are not above taking welfare cheques. do any of them actually work?

I believe they are against the government ripping off the state,not both.
It's a disgrace they don't have jobs what with the booming labour market.

baaaa

Fuinseog wrote: »

they are against the people of Mayo having jobs.

Yes,this is true.The prospect of shell providing 50/60 jobs drives these lazy hippes mad with jealousy.

Robbo

JIZZLORD wrote: »

speaking of radical protest groups, how are gaaw getting on?

Marvellously. World peace was declared and the airshow will now be entirely made up of box kites.

Steyr

JIZZLORD wrote: »

speaking of radical protest groups, how are gaaw getting on?

:pac::pac::pac:
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/17902

Farrell gets a visit from the Fuzz
Galway Advertiser, October 15, 2009.
GAAW accuses Gardaí of ‘harassment’
By Kernan Andrews

Niall Farrell, the spokesperson for the Galway Alliance Against War group has accused the Garda of “harassment” following two plain clothed detectives calling to his home last weekend.

Last Saturday at approximately 5pm two plain clothed garda detectives called at the home of Mr Farrell. He was not at home at the time. It appears the gardaí wanted to speak with him about a phone conversation he had with a member of the Aviation Authority four months ago at the time of the appearance of the RAF’s Red Arrows in Galway.

Responding to the Garda visit to his home Niall Farrell stated: “The irony is stunning: In the same week President Obama gets the Nobel Peace Prize, even though in his first seven days in office he sanctioned two air strikes in Pakistan that killed 22 people including women and children, and I get a visit to my home by two detectives because of my activities as an anti-war activist.”

Mr Farrell alleged that the “unannounced visit” to his home by the gardaí was “nothing other than harassment”.

Less than two weeks ago Mr Farrell was told by a uniformed garda sergeant investigating the death threats made against him that the investigation was at an end.

“The gardaí are in possession of the number that made the three threatening calls, the phone is registered to a bogus name and address,” he said. “The gardaí could not establish where the calls were made from or where the phone, that is still in use, was to be located because the telephone company Vodafone have failed to reply to the sergeant’s requests!”

Mr Farrell has now contacted the Garda Ombudsman regarding the Garda call to his home.

:pac::pac::pac:
Last time i checked AGS dont really need to tell you they are coming Niall...What a tool.

Fuinseog

baaaa wrote: »

Yes,this is true.The prospect of shell providing 50/60 jobs drives these lazy hippes mad with jealousy.

i think shell provides more than 60 jobs. more like a thousand plus. not to be scoffed at in an area where there was never anz employment.

most of these hippies never worked a day in their lives. most of the protesters in mayo are not even from the province.
a certain school teacher up there , one of the ringleaders, did not endear herelf to the local community when she went on extended sick leave, leaving her young charges in the lurch.

true, you have the odd farmer protesting, just like the odd farmer protested against the introduction of electricity to the area.

Fuinseog

I take it gaaw is galway against war, chaired by the brother of Mairead Farrell (an innocent Irish woman on a peace mission to Gibraltar, heinously murdered by the crown forces).

what I love about GAAW is the way that they condemn Israel, but support Palestine, the latter being a peace loving people

Fuinseog

Steyr wrote: »

:pac::pac::pac:
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/17902

Farrell gets a visit from the Fuzz
Galway Advertiser, October 15, 2009.
GAAW accuses Gardaí of ‘harassment’
By Kernan Andrews

Niall Farrell, the spokesperson for the Galway Alliance Against War group has accused the Garda of “harassment” following two plain clothed detectives calling to his home last weekend.

Last Saturday at approximately 5pm two plain clothed garda detectives called at the home of Mr Farrell. He was not at home at the time. It appears the gardaí wanted to speak with him about a phone conversation he had with a member of the Aviation Authority four months ago at the time of the appearance of the RAF’s Red Arrows in Galway.

Responding to the Garda visit to his home Niall Farrell stated: “The irony is stunning: In the same week President Obama gets the Nobel Peace Prize, even though in his first seven days in office he sanctioned two air strikes in Pakistan that killed 22 people including women and children, and I get a visit to my home by two detectives because of my activities as an anti-war activist.”

Mr Farrell alleged that the “unannounced visit” to his home by the gardaí was “nothing other than harassment”.

Less than two weeks ago Mr Farrell was told by a uniformed garda sergeant investigating the death threats made against him that the investigation was at an end.

“The gardaí are in possession of the number that made the three threatening calls, the phone is registered to a bogus name and address,” he said. “The gardaí could not establish where the calls were made from or where the phone, that is still in use, was to be located because the telephone company Vodafone have failed to reply to the sergeant’s requests!”

Mr Farrell has now contacted the Garda Ombudsman regarding the Garda call to his home.

:pac::pac::pac:
Last time i checked AGS dont really need to tell you they are coming Niall...What a tool.

bloody Free Staters!

?Cee?view

Fuinseog wrote: »

I take it gaaw is galway against war, chaired by the brother of Mairead Farrell (an innocent Irish woman on a peace mission to Gibraltar, heinously murdered by the crown forces).

what I love about GAAW is the way that they condemn Israel, but support Palestine, the latter being a peace loving people

I didn't know that Farrell connection...very interesting

Steyr

Fuinseog wrote: »

I take it gaaw is galway against war, chaired by the brother of Mairead Farrell (an innocent Irish woman on a peace mission to Gibraltar, heinously murdered by the crown forces).

Yup totally Innocent..........:pac:

galwayrush

Fuinseog wrote: »

I take it gaaw is galway against war, chaired by the brother of Mairead Farrell (an innocent Irish woman on a peace mission to Gibraltar, heinously murdered by the crown forces).

what I love about GAAW is the way that they condemn Israel, but support Palestine, the latter being a peace loving people

Ironic to the extreme.

Yeah, who did they think they were shooting someone before she and her friends would have planted a bomb to kill them:rolleyes:

big b

i was actually in Gibraltar when that incident happened.

From the airport here, to the uk airport, to Spanish immigration, to "random" ID & baggage checks on the day-tour bus from Costa Del Sol to Gibraltar, my partner & I have never, before or since, been subjected to such scrutiny.

They must have been really worried about that innocent peace mission.:rolleyes:

PomBear

Fuinseog wrote: »

you cannot reason with shell to sea. these militant hippies should batoned out of existence. they are against teh government and state, zet are not above taking welfare cheques. do any of them actually work?

Attack the cause not the people