The Mayo News

As Shell ‘emphatically rejects’ any allegation that its employees were involved in the sinking of the Iona Isle, Minister Éamon Ó Cuív has called for a full investigation into the incident. Shell rejects involvement in sinking as Ó Cuív calls for investigation


Áine Ryan

AS SHELL Ireland (SEPIL) ‘emphatically rejects’ any allegation that its employees were involved in the sinking of the Iona Isle, a senior Fianna Fáil Minister, Éamon Ó Cuív, has joined in the calls for a full investigation into the incident.
Yesterday (Monday) the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association (EIFA) also dubbed as ‘sinister’ the sinking of one of its member’s craft. Chairman Eddie Diver also said that Mr O’Donnell was ‘in good standing’ with his organisation, amd they were not pointing the finger in any one direction, but it was time that government and those in authority took charge of the project.
Calling for a vigorous investigation into the reckless endangerment of two lives, Mr Diver said: “It is a turn of events that we of the EIFA deplore, cannot condone in any way and could very well do without. It is something the people of Erris could do without.”
After long negotiations the majority of EIFA members accepted financial compensation from Shell for disruption of their fishing season during the pipe-laying works.  
Meanwhile, Minister Ó Cuív’s spokeswoman confirmed to The Mayo News that while speaking on the Irish Aniar programme on Raidió na Gaeltachta, he said it was ‘of absolute importance that this matter be fully investigated by the relevant authorities and that the idea of armed and masked men boarding a fishing vessel is outrageous and of grave concern’.
Chief Superintendent Tony McNamara has also confirmed the gardaí are investigating the matter.
“We are carrying out an investigation because Pat O’Donnell rang Belmullet Garda Station last Thursday morning and reported serious allegations that people sank his boat. On the face of it, it is a very serious allegation involving the use of firearms, threats and the sinking of a boat,” said Supt McNamara.
He also said Mr O’Donnell had since refused to engage with the gardaí.
“Now he has refused to engage with us or give us information. He refused to be interviewed or co-operate with our detectives when they called to Mayo General Hospital afterwards. All we can do now is speak to other people who were on the water that morning,” he continued.
“[O’Donnell’s boat] was situated eight miles out from Glengad where the Garda unit was on another operation. The Mayday call was received at 4.40am and our unit left Glengad then. They were at the scene within ten minutes and they saw no other craft, other than the Rachel Mary,” he added.
Responding, Mr O’Donnell said the fact he immediately reported the raiders had sailed north after allegedly sinking his boat must be on record in Belmullet Station.
In a statement by Shell it was noted that the ‘location where the fishing boat sank is approximately ten miles away from [the] work site at Glengad’.
“All boats and personnel - both operational and security - working in the bay on SEPIL’s behalf in the early hours of this morning are accounted for and none was in the vicinity of the Iona Isle when it sank. In fact, three vessels working for the project responded to the distress signal,” it continued.
“A number of malicious allegations have been made against SEPIL and its security contractors in recent weeks. These claims are designed to cast doubt on the integrity of the project and the personnel working on it, but have no basis in fact. To our knowledge no complaints have been made to the gardaí,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Mr Joe Higgins MEP, Labour Deputy Michael D Higgins and the Green Party’s Justice spokesman, Deputy Ciaran Cuffe, as well as Shell to Sea, Erris community groups, Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile have called for full investigations.

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