Shell protesters stage sit-in at council office

A crowd of people are staging a sit-in at the chambers of Mayo County Council this evening in an attempt to secure an emergency meeting of the council.

The protest followed a meeting between spouses and supporters of the five men, who were jailed for contempt of court in their opposition the Corrib gas onshore pipeline, and the council cathaoirleach, Henry Kenny this morning.

Dr Mark Garavan, a spokeman for the Shell to Sea Campaign, speaking from within the chambers said this morning's meeting was to clarify the position of a motion raised at a recent council meeting.

"They sought the meeting in order to clarify the precise position of the council vis-a-vis a motion that apparently was passed at their last meeting calling on Shell to process the gas offshore.

"Now that motion was not deemed validly passed by the cathaoirleach and in that event, what the families wanted was that he, the cathaoirleach, would call an emergency meeting of the county council in order to have the motion addressed properly."

At this morning's meeting Mr Kenny, who is a brother of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, refused to do this. The families then decided to remain in the chambers. They have gathered the signatures of five county councillors, which allows them to put a formal request to the cathaoirleach to hold an emergency meeting.

Dr Garavan said those remaining in the chambers, which includes three councillors and local TD Jerry Cowley, and a number of relatives and supporters of the jailed men, were still seeking a commitment from the cathaoirleach that an emergency meeting would be convened.

He said it was hoped that a decision on the matter would be reached today. Yesterday, the Minister for the Marine, Noel Dempsey, granted permission to the company to start laying the offshore section of the pipe.

Work on the onshore section has stopped, pending a review ordered by the Minister.