Gardaí are investigating an incident at Shell’s Corrib gas pipeline site in Co Mayo in which they say up to 15 people wearing balaclavas and carrying tools, bars and chains vandalised the area last night.
Some of the group managed to start a mechanical digger in the compound at Glengad, Belmullet and badly damaged the compound fence and gate, according to gardaí.
One of the security guards on the site sustained an injury to his wrist when he was hit by a protestor armed with an iron bar. Security guards ran for cover and effectively abandoned the site until back-up arrived in the early hours of this morning.
Gardaí believe the masked men attacked the site because of their opposition to the controversial project.
Earlier this week Shell EP Ireland decided to resume efforts to lay the offshore section of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline after its environmental management plan was approved by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
Gardaí have launched an investigation into last night's incident and the construction site is now a crime scene. A sledgehammer, iron bars and fence posts with nails were found at the scene. A truck was also vandalised.
“This is a serious escalation, we’ve never had people wearing balaclavas and so on breaking into the site in a group with implements,” said one Garda source.
Members of the group were carrying bolt cutters, iron bars and chains when they broke into the compound at Glengad, where the gas pipeline will come to shore.
Superintendent Michael Larkin of Belmullet Garda station said arrests could be expected following the incident.
There was a small number of security staff on duty when the incident began at about 11.30pm last night. The security staff withdrew because they could not deal with the numbers in the masked group.
It is understood that there were no gardaí present at the site at the time of the incident due to restrictions on overtime.
Gardaí are investigating if the group was made up of people from the area and eco warriors who do not reside locally.
Tony McNamara, Garda Chief Superintendent of the Mayo Division, said the incident appeared to be "well planned" and was "an almost military-style operation".
He said last night's incident had frightened local people and called on those who are unhappy about the building of the pipeline to engage with the North West Mayo Forum, which was established by the Government to examine issues relating to the Corrib project.
"We would ask people to stand back and take stock of what happened down there last night. People are absolutely entitled to protest but it should be peaceful and within the law," said Mr McNamara.